Antonia Caetana de Paiva Pereira Maury was born in New York, on March 21.1866. Her parents were the Reverend Dr. Mytton Maury and Virginia Draper Maury.
Antonia attended Vassar College and studied under renowned astronomer, Maria Mitchell. Antonia graduated with honors in physics, astronomy, and philosophy in 1887.
After graduation, Antonia began to work at the Harvard College Observatory as one of the Harvard Computers. The Harvard Computers were highly skilled women who processed astronomical data. The women earned half the salary of the men.
Pickering, the head of the observatory, discovered a double star in 1887 and asked Antonia to determine its orbit. Two years later, Antonia discovered Beta Aurigae and calculated its orbital period. Credit for her work was given to Pickering.
In 1888, Antonia improved the classification system used by the Harvard Observatory. She designed one that was more detailed and included information about temperature and about the width, distinctness, and intensity of spectral lines.
Antonia left the observatory in 1891. She began to teach at the Gilman School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Pickering wanted her to return to the Observatory but she was not comfortable researching when her work was unacknowledged.
Antonia taught physics and chemistry at the Castle School in New York. She lectured on astronomy at Cornell from 1896 to 1916. In 1918, Antonia became an adjunct professor at the Harvard Observatory. Pickering's successor gave her credit for her work. She retired from the Observatory in 1948.
Antonia Maury died on January 8, 1952, in New York.
Antonia Caetana de Paiva Pereira Maury was born in New York, on March 21.1866. Her parents were the Reverend Dr. Mytton Maury and Virginia Draper Maury.
Antonia attended Vassar College and studied under renowned astronomer, Maria Mitchell. Antonia graduated with honors in physics, astronomy, and philosophy in 1887.
After graduation, Antonia began to work at the Harvard College Observatory as one of the Harvard Computers. The Harvard Computers were highly skilled women who processed astronomical data. The women earned half the salary of the men.
Pickering, the head of the observatory, discovered a double star in 1887 and asked Antonia to determine its orbit. Two years later, Antonia discovered Beta Aurigae and calculated its orbital period. Credit for her work was given to Pickering.
In 1888, Antonia improved the classification system used by the Harvard Observatory. She designed one that was more detailed and included information about temperature and about the width, distinctness, and intensity of spectral lines.
Antonia left the observatory in 1891. She began to teach at the Gilman School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Pickering wanted her to return to the Observatory but she was not comfortable researching when her work was unacknowledged.
Antonia taught physics and chemistry at the Castle School in New York. She lectured on astronomy at Cornell from 1896 to 1916. In 1918, Antonia became an adjunct professor at the Harvard Observatory. Pickering's successor gave her credit for her work. She retired from the Observatory in 1948.
Antonia Maury died on January 8, 1952, in New York.
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