Margaret Harwood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Margaret Harwood
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | March 19, 1885 |
| Died | February 6, 1979 (aged 93) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | |
| Awards | Annie J. Cannon Award in Astronomy |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | astronomy |
| Institutions |
|
Margaret Harwood (born March 19, 1885 – died February 6, 1979) was an amazing American astronomer. She was the very first director of the Maria Mitchell Observatory in Nantucket, Massachusetts. An asteroid, 7040 Harwood, was named after her in 1960 to honor her work!
Contents
Early Life and School Days
Margaret Harwood was born in 1885 in Littleton, Massachusetts. She was one of nine children in her family.
She went to Radcliffe College and earned her first degree in 1907. She was a very good student there. Later, in 1916, she earned another degree from the University of California.
Her Career in Astronomy
After college, Margaret Harwood worked at the Harvard Observatory. She also taught at private schools in the Boston area.
In 1912, a special scholarship was created for women to work at the Maria Mitchell Observatory. Margaret Harwood was the first person to receive this scholarship.
In 1916, when she was 30 years old, Harwood became the director of the Mitchell Observatory. She worked there for a long time, until she retired in 1957.
Studying Stars and Asteroids
Margaret Harwood was an expert in something called photometry. This is a way to measure how bright stars and asteroids are. She especially studied how the light from stars and asteroids changed. One of her main focuses was a small planet called Eros.
She was a member of the American Astronomical Society. She was also a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. This meant she was a respected scientist. She traveled a lot in Europe and the United States for her work.
Margaret Harwood was the first woman allowed to use the Mount Wilson Observatory. At that time, it was the biggest observatory in the world.
Discovering an Asteroid
In 1917, Margaret Harwood discovered an asteroid named 886 Washingtonia. She found it four days before another astronomer, George Peters, officially recognized it.
At the time, some older scientists told her not to report her discovery. They thought it was not proper for a woman to get so much attention for such a claim. However, Harwood still sent her photos to Peters. This helped him study the asteroid's path.
Later, in 1960, another asteroid was discovered. It was named 7040 Harwood to honor her important work.
Other Contributions
Margaret Harwood was a devoted Unitarian. She also helped run the Nantucket Cottage Hospital. During World War II, she taught at MIT, a famous university.
She is buried at the Westlawn Cemetery in Littleton, Massachusetts.
Honors and Awards
Margaret Harwood was the first woman to receive an honorary Ph.D. from Oxford University. This is a very special award.
In 1960, an asteroid was discovered by Cornelis Johannes van Houten and Ingrid van Houten-Groeneveld. They named it Harwood in her honor.
In 1962, she received the Annie J. Cannon Award in Astronomy. This award recognizes outstanding women in astronomy.
See also
In Spanish: Margaret Harwood para niños
