Notable Women in Astronomy

As has been true in other branches of scientific endeavor, it has taken a long time for women astronomers to be given their place alongside men. Notwithstanding this injustice, women have been making tremendous contributions to the field of astronomy for more than 100 years. Yet, their contributions have not been adequately acknowledged. Oh! We do have a Women Astronomer Day — August 1. (!)

One of these important woman astronomy pioneers, perhaps the most important, is Henrietta Swan Leavitt. She was a “computer” at the turn of the 20th century working for “important” men astronomers at the Harvard observatory. [A “computer” was a woman who examined photographic plates taken by cameras on telescopes and cataloging the stars on them.] Her analysis of photographic plates led her to make observations that would later lead famed astronomer Edwin Hubble to the conclusion that the stars at night are not just from our own galaxy — they are billions of other, very distant galaxies. Then later, and perhaps more stunning, Leavitt’s work helped Hubble to understand that the universe was not static (as Einstein and others in the early 20th century believed). Rather it was expanding!

“Leavitt’s discovery would forever change humanity’s picture of the universe, as it prompted Harlow Shapley to move the Sun from the center of the galaxy in the “Great Debate” and Edwin Hubble to move the Milky Way galaxy from the center of the universe.” [see: Henrietta Swan Leavitt]

Because of her discoveries and her work to establish a scientific basis for determining the stellar distances Henrietta should have received the Nobel Prize. But the Nobel Committee at the turn of the century did not recognize women as scientists. Finally, in 1924 someone recognized the oversight (aka “insult”). Gösta Mittag-Leker of the Swedish Academy of Sciences tried to nominate her for the Nobel but by then Henrietta had died of cancer and the prize is not awarded posthumously. However (hold your applause) she has received some posthumous honors. There is an asteroid and a crater on the Moon named after her. Nice to know.

When Leavitt died in 1921 she was a generally unknown astronomer. Fortunately, but far to late IMO, there are a number of biographies underway.