Jessica Mink facts for kids

Jessica Mink is an American software developer and a data archivist at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian. She was part of the team that found the rings around the planet Uranus.

Early Life and Discoveries

Jessica Mink was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1951. She finished high school in 1969. She went on to study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). There, she earned two degrees in Planetary Science in 1973 and 1974.

From 1976 to 1979, she worked at Cornell University. She helped develop computer programs for astronomy. During this time, she was part of a team that made an exciting discovery: the rings around Uranus. Jessica was in charge of the software that helped process and analyze the data.

After Cornell, she returned to MIT. Her work there also helped in finding the rings around Neptune. She has created many useful software programs for studying space, like WCSTools and RVSAO. Even without a PhD, she is a member of important groups like the American Astronomical Society.

Personal Interests and Advocacy

Jessica Mink loves riding her bicycle. She has been a leader for the Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition. Since 1991, she has planned the route for the Massachusetts part of the East Coast Greenway. This is a long path for bikes and walkers.

In 2011, at age 60, Jessica shared her personal journey of living authentically. She has spoken about her experiences. She was also featured in articles about being true to oneself in a professional setting. In 2015, she helped organize a conference called "Inclusive Astronomy" at Vanderbilt University. This conference aimed to make astronomy a welcoming field for everyone.

Jessica Mink lives in Massachusetts (USA) and has a daughter.