Mary Lea Heger facts for kids

Mary Lea Heger (born July 13, 1897 – died July 13, 1983), later known as Mary Lea Shane, was an American astronomer. She made very important discoveries about the space between stars. This area is called the interstellar medium. She also started the Lick Observatory Archives. These archives are now named the Mary Lea Shane Archives of Lick Observatory, in her honor.

Early Life and Discoveries

Mary Lea Heger was born in Wilmington, Delaware. When she was a child, her family moved to Belvedere, near the San Francisco Bay. She grew up there.

She went to the University of California, Berkeley and earned her first degree in 1919. After that, she became a student studying astronomy. In 1920, she married C. Donald Shane. She finished her PhD in 1924. Her research was done at Lick Observatory, and her supervisor was W. W. Campbell.

Mary Lea Heger's work was among the first to notice special, unmoving dark lines in the light from faraway stars. These lines, called Na I absorption lines, showed that there was gas and dust in the space between stars. She also found other mysterious dark lines, which are now called diffuse interstellar bands.

Life After Research

Mary Lea Heger decided to stop her professional research career. She wanted to focus on raising her two young children.

After World War II, her husband became the director of Lick Observatory. Mary Lea Heger became well-known for being a kind and generous host. She often welcomed scientists and guests to their home.

Later Years

Mary Lea Shane passed away on her 86th birthday, July 13, 1983. She died from a heart attack at her home in Scotts Valley, California.