Women in Astronomy!

The really cool thing about Astronomy is that women have made some of the most important contributions to the field.

For example, a team of women, led by Willamina Fleming, refined the original spectral classification system. Originally, it was classified A through O according to the hydrogen Balmer lines in its' spectrum. This system did not explain why the Balmer lines in some stars were were stronger than the lines in others. There seemed to be no rhyme or reason for it.

Because of the efforts of a team of women in 1897, including Williamina Fleming, Antonia Maury and Annie Jump Cannon, a new spectral classification was born that changed smoothly from one spectral class to the next. Many of the A through O classes were dropped and the ones remaining were reordered (OBAFGKM).

It was later discovered that these spectral classifications placed stars in order of temperature. O stars, the hottest, were at the top, while M stars, the coolest, were placed at the bottom.

Pickering's Harem

Women astronomers hard at work
Williamina Fleming, standing center