Star

by Kathy K McClellan

Canvas Print

Framed Print

Art Print

Poster

Metal Print

Acrylic Print

Wood Print

Greeting Card

Title

Star

Artist

Kathy K McClellan

Medium

Digital Art - Photographs

Description

Star by Kathy K. McClellan is an image created for Day 71 of the Journal 2022 Challenge.

My journal entries for March make up a series titled "From Letters to Words" using the letters that were created for the February entries. As March is Women's History Month (since 1987), several of my posts this month will be celebrating women in history.

Dorrit Hoffleit, born in Florence, Alabama on March 12, 1907 was a world-renowned astronomer, an expert on variable stars, astrometry, and the history of astronomy.

Although she experienced gender discrimination she used those experiences to excel in her career.

She graduated from Radcliffe College in 1928 with a cum laude in mathematics and in 1938 with a Ph.D in astronomy.

She started working at Harvard as a research assistant. She joined the American Association of Variable Star Observers and over the years served in leadership positions there including being Vice President and President. She never missed an annual meeting and contributed notes and research to the organization during her lifetime.

She calculated missile trajectories during WWII as she consulted for the U.S. Army's Ballistic Research Laboratories.

In 1956 she went to Yale and took over Ida Barney's astrometric work. She also served as director of the Maria Mitchell Observatory on Nantucket Island from 1957 to 1978 where she ran summer programs.

Although she officially retired in 1975, Dorrit continued to work daily in her office at Yale until she was well into her 90's.

Dorrit Hoffleit received many awards during her lifetime including honorary doctorates from Smith College in 1984 and Central Connecticut State University in 1998, the Wedgewood Medallion of the Coat of Arms of Yale University (1992), the Annenberg Foundation Award of the American Astronomical Association (1993), the Glover Award of Dickinson College (1995), and the Maria Mitchell Women in Science Award (1997). In 1998, she was inducted into the Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame.

When Dorrit turned 80, minor planet (3416) was named "Dorrit" in her honor.

Dorrit Hoffleit was the oldest astronomer to ever live. She published her autobiography five years before her death in April 2007 at the age of 100.