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Birthday of first acknowledged female astronomer
by Ann House 04 Aug '14

04 Aug '14

* Today is the birthday* of *Maria Mitchell* <http://www.mariamitchell.org/about/about-maria-mitchell?elq=a753714df97e482…> (*books by this author* <http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=Maria%20Mitchell&tag=writa…>), the first acknowledged female astronomer, born in 1818 on the island of Nantucket in Massachusetts. Although the American essayist Hannah Crocker explained that same year in her *Observations on the Real Rights of Women* that it was then a woman's "province to soothe the turbulent passions of men ... to shine in the domestic circle" and that "it would be improper, and physically very incorrect, for the female character to claim the statesman's birth or ascend the rostrum to gain the loud applause of men," Maria Mitchell's Quaker parents believed that girls should have the same access to education and the same chance to aspire to high goals as boys, and they raised all 10 of their children as equals. Maria's early interest in science and the stars came from her father, a dedicated amateur astronomer who shared with all his children what he saw as physical evidence of God in the natural world, although Maria was the only child interested enough to learn the mathematics of astronomy. She would later say, in a quote recorded in NASA's profile of her, that we should "not look at the stars as bright spots only [but] try to take in the vastness of the universe," because "every formula which expresses a law of nature is a hymn of praise to God." By age 12, Maria was assisting her father with his astronomical observations and data, and just five years later opened and ran her own school for girls, training them in the sciences and math. In 1838, she became the librarian of the Nantucket Atheneum and began spending her evenings in an observatory her father had built atop the town's bank. On October 1, 1848, a crisp, clear autumn evening, Maria focused her father's telescope on a distant star. The light was faint and blurry, and Maria suddenly realized she was looking not at a star, but a comet; she recorded its coordinates, and when she saw the next night that the fuzzy light had moved, she was sure. Maria shared her discovery with her father, who wrote to the Harvard Observatory, who in turn passed her name on to the king of Denmark, who had pledged a gold medal to the first person to discover a comet so distant that it could only be seen through a telescope. Maria was awarded the medal the following year, and the comet became known as "Miss Mitchell's Comet." Mitchell's list of firsts is impressive: She'd made the first American comet sighting; in 1848, she was the first woman appointed to the American Association for the Advancement of Science; in 1853, she became the first woman to earn an advanced degree; and in 1865, she became the first woman appointed to the faculty of the newly founded Vassar Female College as their astronomy professor and the head of their observatory, making her the first female astronomy professor in American history. Mitchell also became a devoted anti-slavery activist and suffragette, with friends such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, and helped found the American Association for the Advancement of Women. In her *Life, Letters, and Journals*, Maria declares that, "no woman should say, 'I am but a woman!' But a woman! What more can you ask to be? Born a woman — born with the average brain of humanity — born with more than the average heart — if you are mortal, what higher destiny could you have? No matter where you are nor what you are, you are a power." *Writer’s Almanac, August 1st*

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SPOC Aug. 2nd
by Chuck Hards 04 Aug '14

04 Aug '14

Does anyone know what the categories and judging criteria are for the vintage telescope "contest"? Any prizes? Anybody else planning on bringing an old scope?

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Andromeda portrait
by Joe Bauman 03 Aug '14

03 Aug '14

A view of Central City, the Great Andromeda Galaxy -- taken this morning at Lakeside, Tooele County. http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=5954

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Oops -- Andromeda
by Joe Bauman 02 Aug '14

02 Aug '14

Slightly better version, http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=5957

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Birthday of first acknowledged female astronomer
by Joe Bauman 02 Aug '14

02 Aug '14

Very interesting, and she certainly was a commendable scientist and person. But Caroline Herschel was earlier and her accomplishments in astronomy were much greater. She was known for her work too. ------------------------------ On Fri, Aug 1, 2014 2:47 PM MDT Ann House wrote: >* Today is the birthday* of *Maria Mitchell* ><http://www.mariamitchell.org/about/about-maria-mitchell?elq=a753714df97e482…> >(*books by this author* ><http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=Maria%20Mitchell&tag=writa…>), >the first acknowledged female astronomer, born in 1818 on the island of >Nantucket in Massachusetts. Although the American essayist Hannah Crocker >explained that same year in her *Observations on the Real Rights of Women* >that it was then a woman's "province to soothe the turbulent passions of >men ... to shine in the domestic circle" and that "it would be improper, >and physically very incorrect, for the female character to claim the >statesman's birth or ascend the rostrum to gain the loud applause of men," >Maria Mitchell's Quaker parents believed that girls should have the same >access to education and the same chance to aspire to high goals as boys, >and they raised all 10 of their children as equals. > >Maria's early interest in science and the stars came from her father, a >dedicated amateur astronomer who shared with all his children what he saw >as physical evidence of God in the natural world, although Maria was the >only child interested enough to learn the mathematics of astronomy. She >would later say, in a quote recorded in NASA's profile of her, that we >should "not look at the stars as bright spots only [but] try to take in the >vastness of the universe," because "every formula which expresses a law of >nature is a hymn of praise to God." > > By age 12, Maria was assisting her father with his astronomical >observations and data, and just five years later opened and ran her own >school for girls, training them in the sciences and math. In 1838, she >became the librarian of the Nantucket Atheneum and began spending her >evenings in an observatory her father had built atop the town's bank. > > On October 1, 1848, a crisp, clear autumn evening, Maria focused her >father's telescope on a distant star. The light was faint and blurry, and >Maria suddenly realized she was looking not at a star, but a comet; she >recorded its coordinates, and when she saw the next night that the fuzzy >light had moved, she was sure. Maria shared her discovery with her father, >who wrote to the Harvard Observatory, who in turn passed her name on to the >king of Denmark, who had pledged a gold medal to the first person to >discover a comet so distant that it could only be seen through a telescope. >Maria was awarded the medal the following year, and the comet became known >as "Miss Mitchell's Comet." > > Mitchell's list of firsts is impressive: She'd made the first American >comet sighting; in 1848, she was the first woman appointed to the American >Association for the Advancement of Science; in 1853, she became the first >woman to earn an advanced degree; and in 1865, she became the first woman >appointed to the faculty of the newly founded Vassar Female College as >their astronomy professor and the head of their observatory, making her the >first female astronomy professor in American history. > > Mitchell also became a devoted anti-slavery activist and suffragette, >with friends such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, and >helped found the American Association for the Advancement of Women. In >her *Life, >Letters, and Journals*, Maria declares that, "no woman should say, 'I am >but a woman!' But a woman! What more can you ask to be? Born a woman — born >with the average brain of humanity — born with more than the average heart >— if you are mortal, what higher destiny could you have? No matter where >you are nor what you are, you are a power." *Writer’s Almanac, August 1st* >_______________________________________________ >Utah-Astronomy mailing list >http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > >Send messages to the list to >Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > >The Utah-Astronomy mailing list is not affiliated with any astronomy club. > >To unsubscribe go to: >http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy >Then enter your email address in the space provided and click on "Unsubscribe or edit options".

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Siberian CraterS
by CenturyLink Customer 01 Aug '14

01 Aug '14

Two more craters have appeared in Siberia. Fortunately, they are in Siberia. One theory is "something" is tasting the planet. Maybe this is where they are ins erting the meat themometer. Is Godzilla still at the dollar theatres? http://www.iflscience.com/environment/two-more-mysterious-siberian-craters-…

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Let's hope this holds up!
by Joe Bauman 01 Aug '14

01 Aug '14

Breakthrough propulsion? NASA tested an impossible space engine and it somehow worked

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Let's hope this holds up!
by Bruce Hugo 01 Aug '14

01 Aug '14

I saw this Joe. Unfortunately, it seems to create a very small force. But you never know, it could lead to something big in the long run! Hoping for a big "F" in the future! (F=ma) Bruce Hugo

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Fw: SWAP - 2014 Southwest Astrophotography Seminar
by Richard Tenney 01 Aug '14

01 Aug '14

Spam that may be of interest to some of you... /R ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Warren Keller <warhenk(a)yahoo.com> To: Warren Keller <warhenk(a)yahoo.com> Sent: Friday, August 1, 2014 9:27 AM Subject: SWAP - 2014 Southwest Astrophotography Seminar Dear friends in Astrophotography, Please join us for SWAP 2014. Only 3 months to go! The 2nd annual Southwest Astrophotography Seminar will be held October 29-31 at the Tucson Convention Center in Tucson, AZ USA. Registration is now open (http://www.scienceandastronomy.com/swap-2014/) We again recommend staying at The Hotel Tucson City Center InnSuites (http://www.innsuites.com/catch/tucson-city-center-hotel/tucson-city-center-…) where Wednesday's 'Comrades In Arms' sessions will be held. Whether paying by check or PayPal, please be sure to mail your registration form with your desired C.I.A. topic! Mr. Dennis Conti has graciously volunteered his time to coordinate the Wednesday sessions. If you neglected to recommend a C.I.A. topic, look to hear from Dennis soon. While still early, it's time to start preparing for Tucson 10/29-31, and ASAE- The Arizona Science and Astronomy Expo on 11/1-2. The earlier you register, the better we can organize Wednesday's program and get you discussing your topics of interest. If you're already registered and have submitted a topic, please feel free to ignore this mailing. We think we have a wonderful lineup Southwest Astrophotography Seminar- SWAP 2014 | Arizona Science & Astronomy Expo and we hope to see you again in beautiful Tucson for Halloween! Thanks for your support and interest. Please help us spread the word. Please ask if you wish to be removed from this list. Best, Warren Warren A. Keller www.ip4ap.com www.billionsandbillions.com

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...good imagination and a pile of junk
by Wiggins Patrick 30 Jul '14

30 Jul '14

One of the aviation email newsletters I receive always includes a quote from some notable person. Today's reminded me of some people here on U-A: "To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk." -- Thomas Edison, patrick :)

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