Maria mitchell biography facts
Maria mitchell comet...
Maria Mitchell
()
Who Was Maria Mitchell?
Maria Mitchell was an astronomer who studied astronomy on her own time with the support of her father.
Maria mitchell biography facts
In , Mitchell discovered a new comet, which became known as "Miss Mitchell's Comet," gaining her recognition in astronomy circles. She went on to become a professor of astronomy at Vassar College in New York, tracking and taking photos of sunspots with her students.
Early Life
Mitchell was born to Quaker parents William and Lydia Mitchell on August 1, , in Nantucket, Massachusetts, where she was raised and received her early education.
Mitchell's father, recognizing her interest in the heavens at an early age, encouraged her interest in astronomy and taught her how to use a telescope.
She worked as the first librarian at the Nantucket Atheneum library from to , all the while still gazing at the sky at night, studying solar eclipses, the stars, Jupiter and Saturn.