Discover the Stars: Top 10 Fun Facts About Astronomer Maria Mitchell You Never Knew!

1. Comet Queen of Women's Rights

When Maria Mitchell wasn't busy advocating for women's rights or giving a cold shoulder to slavery, she had her eyes on the skies, searching for little celestial streaks: America's very first female astronomer discovered a new comet in 1847 - aptly named "Miss Mitchell's Comet" - which led to her becoming the first female astronomy professor in the US at Vassar College and having both an observatory on Nantucket and a lunar crater named in her honor.
Source => aps.org

2. Elle Woods of Astronomy

Long before Elle Woods made embracing our inner nerd fashionable, Maria Mitchell was making waves with her astronomical prowess and her undeniable comet-ment to shining bright like the stars: Maria Mitchell, the first American woman astronomer, has the titles of both the discoverer of Miss Mitchell's Comet and the first-ever female astronomy professor at Vassar College, earning her a medal from the King of Denmark and solidifying her celestial reign.
Source => aaas.org

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3. Celestial Diva

Blasting into stardom and leaving a comet tail of curiosity, Maria Mitchell was no ordinary celestial diva: This powerhouse astronomer discovered a new comet in 1847, making her the first woman to do so and earning her a gold medal from the Danish king, with her legacy shining on through the Maria Mitchell Observatory.
Source => mariamitchell.org

4. Ross Geller's Astronomical Sister

Long before Ross Geller made paleontology popular on TV, a trailblazing gal had her eyes set on the skies: Maria Mitchell was the first professional female astronomer in the U.S. and the first woman inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, best known for discovering a new comet in 1847, affectionately dubbed "Miss Mitchell's Comet."
Source => mariamitchell.org

5. Royal Comet Treatment

Fear not, Comet Connoisseurs, for Maria Mitchell's royal treatment was well-deserved! This celestial superstar expertly maneuvered through the galaxy of women's rights, eventually receiving a gold medal for her astronomical achievement at the 1848 Women's Rights Convention: Miss Mitchell, an American astronomer, discovered a new comet in 1847, known today as "Miss Mitchell's Comet," and was awarded a gold medal by King Frederick VII of Denmark for her groundbreaking calculations.
Source => forbes.com

6. Comet Wrapped Around Her Finger

Before she was known for shooting stars across the sky and breaking glass ceilings, Maria Mitchell had one comet wrapped around her little finger – quite literally: Miss Mitchell's cosmological conquest began in 1847 when she discovered a comet now known as "Miss Mitchell's Comet", earning her a gold medal from King Christian VIII of Denmark and eventually becoming the first female professor of astronomy at Vassar College, as well as director of the Vassar College Observatory.
Source => noaa.gov

7. Miss Mitchell's Midnight Astronomy Class

Scaling roofs like an astro-pro spiderwoman with wicked spectacles and a penchant for midnight mischief: Maria Mitchell entertained her students atop the Vassar College observatory, earning her the moniker "Miss Mitchell's Midnight Astronomy Class."
Source => www2.hao.ucar.edu

8. Constellation Eyes

They say astronomers have stars in their eyes, but Maria Mitchell must have had entire constellations: This trailblazing scientist was not only the first American woman astronomer but also the first woman to become a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in 1850 and the first female professor of astronomy at Vassar College, inspiring future generations of aspiring female scientists to reach for the stars.
Source => aaas.org

9. Celestial Sherlock Holmes

Once upon a rooftop in Nantucket, observing the heavens like a true celestial Sherlock Holmes, Maria Mitchell cracked the case of the mysterious cosmic traveler: At the age of 29, she discovered a comet from the roof of the Pacific Bank in 1848, nabbing the prestigious gold medal award from King Frederick VII of Denmark and securing her status as a trailblazing female astronomer who would inspire generations of women in STEM.
Source => newenglandhistoricalsociety.com

10. Comet-Catching Powerhouse

Hold on to your telescopes, because Maria Mitchell was a celestial powerhouse who shot for the stars and caught a comet: This trailblazing astronomer was the first American woman to discover a comet, become a female professor of astronomy, direct an observatory at Vassar College, work for the U.S. Coast Survey, and compile navigational tables for sailors.
Source => noaa.gov