Maria Mitchell (1818-1889): A Trailblazing Astronomer
Maria Mitchell, an American astronomer born in 1818, is a pioneering figure in the history of astronomy. Her life and career were marked by a deep passion for the stars. She had an unyielding commitment to education, and a determination to break down social and gender barriers.
Maria Mitchell was born in Nantucket, Massachusetts, and was raised in an environment that encouraged intellectual curiosity and a love for learning. Maria Mitchell’s father was William Mitchell.
He was a dedicated amateur astronomer and a teacher who played a significant role in nurturing his daughter’s interest in astronomy and education. William Mitchell’s own passion for astronomy and his encouragement of Maria’s intellectual pursuits had a profound influence on her development as a scientist. Mitchell’s education was diverse and included exposure to mathematics, science, and the humanities. Her early education set the stage for her future endeavors.
One of Maria Mitchell’s most significant scientific achievements was the discovery of a new comet on October 1, 1847. This discovery, known as “Miss Mitchell’s Comet,” brought her international recognition. It made her the first American woman and the third woman in the world to discover a comet.
The fame she gained from this discovery was not only a testament to her observational skills but also a powerful assertion of women’s capabilities in the sciences.
Her primary instrument was a 5-inch aperture refracting telescope. This telescope, known as the “Great Refractor,” was made by the prominent American telescope manufacturer Henry Fitz, who was known for producing high-quality telescopes during the 19th century. The Great Refractor was installed at the Nantucket Atheneum library on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. The Nantucket Atheneum was founded in 1834. It is one of the oldest public libraries in the United States. It was established by a group of Nantucket residents who shared a commitment to fostering education and intellectual pursuits. The telescope was placed in a dome on the rooftop of the Atheneum.
Mitchell used this telescope to make her historic comet discovery on October 1, 1847. The telescope’s quality and precision were instrumental in her ability to observe and document celestial objects.
In addition to her comet discovery, Maria Mitchell’s work in astronomy extended to pioneering photography as a tool for astronomical observations. She was one of the first astronomers to employ photography for capturing images of the stars. Mitchell also built her own telescopes and other astronomical instruments, exhibiting her versatility as a scientist and astronomer.
Mitchell’s dedication to studying celestial objects led her to compile extensive catalogs of stars, including their positions and characteristics. Her diligent work cataloging star positions was critical for navigation and astronomy. Mitchell’s work earned her a place at the American Nautical Almanac Office, where she contributed to the computation of navigational tables.
Beyond her groundbreaking scientific contributions, Maria Mitchell advocated for education, especially for women.
She believed that education should be accessible to all and fought for equal educational opportunities regardless of gender. Her teaching career at Vassar College, where she was the first woman appointed to a professorship in astronomy, was marked by her commitment to fostering young women’s interest in science.
Maria Mitchell’s legacy extends beyond her time as her groundbreaking achievements inspire and empower future female scientists and astronomers. Her life’s work served as a potent reminder that women could excel in fields traditionally dominated by men. She defied societal norms and paved the way for women in science, leaving an enduring mark on the history of astronomy and the broader scientific community.
In 1841, Mitchell attended the anti-slavery convention in Nantucket where Frederick Douglass made his first speech, and she also became involved in the anti-slavery movement by boycotting clothes made of Southern cotton. She later became involved in a number of social issues as a professor, particularly those pertaining to women’s suffrage and education.
She also befriended various suffragists including Elizabeth Cady Stanton. After returning from a trip to Europe in 1873, Mitchell joined the national women’s movement and helped found the Association for the Advancement of Women (AAW), a group dedicated to educational reform and the promotion of women in higher education. Mitchell addressed the Association’s First Women’s Congress in a speech titled The Higher Education of Women in which she described the work of English women working for access to higher education at Girton College, Cambridge.
“The laws of Nature are not discovered by accident; theories do not come by chance, even to the greatest minds; they are not born of the hurry and worry of daily toil; they are diligently sought, they are patiently waited for, they are received with cautious reserve, they are accepted with reverence and awe. And until able women have given their lives to investigation, it is idle to discuss the question of their capacity for original work.”
Mitchell advocated for women working part-time while acquiring their education to not only ease the wages off of men paying for their education, but also to empower more women to be in the workforce. She also called attention to the place for women in science and mathematics and encouraged others to support women’s colleges and women’s campaigns to serve on local school boards. Mitchell served as the second president of the AAW in 1875 and 1876 before stepping down to head a special Committee on Science to analyze and promote women’s progress in the field. She held this position until her death in 1889.
Mitchell died of brain disease on June 28, 1889, in Lynn, Massachusetts at the age of 70. She was buried in Lot 411, in Prospect Hill Cemetery, Nantucket. The Maria Mitchell Association was established to promote the sciences on Nantucket and preserve the legacy Mitchell’s work. The Association operates a Natural History Museum, an Aquarium, a Science Library and Research Center, Maria Mitchell’s Home Museum, and an Observatory named in her honor, the Maria Mitchell Observatory.
In 1989, Mitchell was named a National Women’s History Month Honoree by the National Women’s History Project and was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1994. She was the namesake of a World War II Liberty ship, the SS Maria Mitchell, and New York’s Metro North commuter railroad (with its Hudson Line endpoint in Poughkeepsie near Vassar College) has a train named the Maria Mitchell Comet. A crater on the Moon was also named in her honor.
Her unique place at the intersection of American science and culture has been captured in a number of publications. During her life, Mitchell published seven items in the Royal Society Catalog and three articles detailing her observations in Silliman’s Journal. Mitchell also authored three articles for Hours at Home, Century, and The Atlantic.
Her story serves as an inspiration for all those who strive to overcome obstacles and make meaningful contributions to the advancement of human understanding.
“The progress of the intellect is to the clearer vision of causes, which neglects surface differences. To the poet, to the philosopher, to the saint, all things are friendly and sacred, all events profitable, all days holy, all men divine.”– Maria Mitchell
Maria Michel’s story is now a well deserving member of the Extraterrestrial Communication Group Hall of Fame Library
Sources:
Wikipedia
Britannica
Womans Natural History Museum: Maria Mitchell.