Julie Vinter Hansen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Julie Vinter Hansen
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| Born | 20 July 1890 |
| Died | 27 July 1960 (aged 70) |
| Alma mater | University of Copenhagen |
| Awards | Annie Jump Cannon Award in Astronomy (1940) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Astronomy |
Julie Marie Vinter Hansen (born July 20, 1890 – died July 27, 1960) was a famous Danish astronomer. She made important discoveries about how planets and comets move. She was also the first woman to work at the University of Copenhagen's observatory.
Life and Education
Early Life in Denmark
Julie Vinter Hansen was born in Copenhagen, Denmark. She grew up in a time when it was unusual for women to study science.
Becoming an Astronomer
While studying at the University of Copenhagen, Julie started working at the university's observatory in 1915. She was hired as a "computer." Back then, a computer was a person who did math by hand for astronomers. She was the first woman to ever hold a job at the university's observatory.
Later, she became an assistant at the observatory. By 1922, she was promoted to an observer. This meant she was actively watching and recording what she saw in the sky.
Career and Discoveries
Working at the Observatory
Julie Vinter Hansen was a very hard worker. Besides observing the stars and doing complex math, she also edited a science magazine. This magazine was called Nordisk Astronomisk Tidsskrift, which means Nordic Astronomy Review.
International Astronomy Work
She also became a director for the International Astronomical Union. This group helps astronomers around the world share information. Julie was in charge of sending out important telegrams and newsletters about new discoveries in space.
Tracking Planets and Comets
By 1939, Julie Vinter Hansen was the First Astronomer at the University of Copenhagen's Observatory. She was well-known for her amazing skill in calculating the paths of minor planets and comets. These calculations helped scientists predict where these space objects would be in the future.
Awards and Travel
In 1939, Julie received the Tagea Brandt Rejselegat. This was a special travel award given to women who had done great things in art or science. With the money, she traveled all the way from the United States to Japan and back.
However, her trip back home in 1940 was difficult because World War II had just started.
Working in the United States
During her time in the United States, she received a special scholarship called the Martin Kellogg Fellowship. This allowed her to work at the University of California. Also in 1940, she was honored with the Annie J. Cannon Award in Astronomy. This award is given to women for their important contributions to astronomy.
Return to Denmark
In 1956, Julie Vinter Hansen was given a special honor in Denmark. She was made a Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog. She continued her work at the University of Copenhagen until 1960.
Later Life and Legacy
Death and Remembrance
Julie Vinter Hansen passed away in 1960 from heart failure. This happened just a few days before she was going to retire. She died in Mürren, a mountain village in Switzerland, which was one of her favorite vacation spots. She was buried in Copenhagen.
A minor planet was named in her honor: 1544 Vinterhansenia. It was discovered by another astronomer, Liisi Oterma, in the 1940s. This shows how important Julie's work was to the world of astronomy.
Awards and Honors
- Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog (1956)
- Annie J. Cannon Award in Astronomy (1940)
- Martin Kellogg Fellowship
- Tagea Brandt Rejselegat Award
See also
In Spanish: Julie Vinter Hansen para niños
