SRPS Women in STEM: Margherita Hack - "Lady of the Stars"

Margherita Hack (12 June 1922 – 29 June 2013) was born in Florence on a street named "via delle Cento Stelle" or "street of a hundred stars." An appropriate beginning for the astrophysicist who would go on to be known as the "Lady of the Stars."

She excelled in school, but when it came time to take her graduation exams, they were canceled due to the outbreak of WWII. That didn't stop her education, though. She attended the University of Florence where she enrolled in classes and participated in track and field events, specializing in both the long jump and the high jump. Initially her goal had been to study literature, but her fascination with the stars led her to the field of physics. In 1945 she graduated having written a thesis on Cepheid variables -- pulsating stars.

As an astrophysicist she worked closely with scientists around the world researching stellar spectroscopy and radio astronomy, as well as with the general public to foster a better understanding of the importance of science. She took a teaching and research position at the University of Trieste, where she eventually served as the director of the Astronomy Department. In 1964 she became the first female administrator at the Trieste Astronomical Observatory.

Over the course of her career, she was the author of more than 200 scientific papers, and even founded a magazine, L'Astronomia, as well as acting as director for Le Stelle, another magazine with a focus on popular science and astronomy. She was a popular figure on Italian television, where she discussed important scientific findings in a way the average non-scientist could understand. So popular, indeed, that she was nominated for regional elections in Lombardy, where she earned a seat in the provincial government. She gave up the seat to another politician so she could dedication her time to her research.

In probably the best way to honor an astrophysicist, an asteroid discovered in 1995 was named 8558 Hack in her honor.

After her death, in keeping with her dedication to astronomy and education, she left to the city of Trieste her remarkable personal library containing over 24000 books on astronomy.

You can read an interesting interview with her from 2011 where she talks about the importance of scientific research.

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Annie Jump Cannon - astronomer

Over the course of her remarkable career, Annie Jump Cannon (December 11, 1863 - April 13, 1941) analyzed and measured more stars than any other astronomer before or since, created a classification system that is still in use today, and did more to further our understanding of the universe than anyone else of her era. Plus, you know, she has a pretty darn awesome name!

As a child, Annie was fascinated by the stars. Her mother taught her to recognize the constellations using books she'd studied from as a child, and even helped her build a homemade observatory in the attic of their home.

As passionate as she was, at the time there really wasn't much Annie could do with it, sadly. She read, lots. Often late at night after coming down from the roof where she had been look at the stars for hours, lying in bed with a candle and her books. A habit that made her parents to worry she'd cause a fire.

While other young ladies in her social circle were concerned with balls and getting married, at 16 Annie had other plans. Her mother, always supportive of her daughter's interests, encouraged her to attend college, although few women did at the time. She knew Annie was smart and saw no reason a woman shouldn't also pursue higher learning. She wanted Annie to study science and mathematics, and to use her intelligence to follow her interests. Annie and her mother had always been close, and while it would be difficult for her to be away from home for college, Annie listened to her mother and enrolled at Wellesley.

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