Women in Early British and Irish Astronomy : Stars and Satellites

Careers in astronomy for women (as in other sciences) were a rarity in Britain and Ireland until well into the twentieth century. The book investigates the place of women in astronomy before that era, recounted in the form of biographies of about 25 women born between 1650 and 1900 who in varying capacities contributed to its progress during the eighteenth, nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. There are some famous names among them whose biographies have been written before now, there are others who have received less than their due recognition while many more occupied inconspicuous and sometimes thankless places as assistants to male family members. All deserve to be remembered as interesting individuals in an earlier opportunity-poor age. Placed in roughly chronological order, their lives constitute a sample thread in the story of female entry into the male world of science. The book is aimed at astronomers, amateur astronomers, historians of science, and promoters of women in science, but being written in non-technical language it is intended to be of interest also to educated readers generally. Careers in astronomy for women, as in other sciences, were a rarity in Britain and Ireland until well into the twentieth century. This book investigates the place of women in astronomy before that era, recounted in the form of biographies of about 25 women born between 1650 and 1900 who in varying capacities contributed to its progress during the eighteenth, nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. All deserve to be remembered as interesting individuals in an earlier opportunity-poor age. Placed in roughly chronological order, their lives constitute a sample thread in the story of female entry into the male world of science. The book is aimed at astronomers, amateur astronomers, historians of science, and promoters of women in science, but being written in non-technical language it is intended to be of interest also to educated readers generally Front Matter....Pages i-xvii A Clever and Determined Wife....Pages 1-7 The Labyrinths of Heaven....Pages 9-23 Martyr to Astronomy....Pages 25-44 The Art of Navigation....Pages 45-56 Celebrities....Pages 57-66 Queen of Science....Pages 67-89 In the Shadow of Giant Mirrors....Pages 91-105 The Admiral's Circle....Pages 107-125 Intrepid Travellers....Pages 127-149 Adventurous Amateurs....Pages 151-160 The New Astronomy....Pages 161-183 The Scholarly Sisters....Pages 185-202 Slave-Wage Earners....Pages 203-220 Sunspots and Corona....Pages 221-233 Mountain Paradise....Pages 235-247 Mapping the Moon....Pages 249-255 The End of an Era; the Beginning of a New....Pages 257-260 Back Matter....Pages 261-277 Careers in astronomy for women were a rarity in Britain and Ireland until the 20th century. This book investigates the place of women in astronomy before that era, recounted in the form of biographies of about 25 women born between 1650 and 1900 who in varying capacities contributed to its progress during the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries.