NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Maria Mitchell (1818-1889) was an American astronomer, a scientist who studies outer space. She became known for her studies of the sun and of the moons surrounding other planets. She discovered a new comet in 1847.

Image to left: Maria Mitchell learned about astronomy from her father. Credit: World Book illustration by Arvis Stewart

Mitchell was born in Nantucket, Mass. For the most part, Mitchell taught herself. She also learned astronomy from her father. In 1848, she became the first woman to join the American Academy of the Arts and Sciences. She became a professor of astronomy at Vassar College in 1865. In 1905, she was elected to the Hall of Fame for Great Americans.

How to cite this article: To cite this article, World Book recommends the following format: "Maria Mitchell." The World Book Student Discovery Encyclopedia. Chicago: World Book, Inc., 2005.

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