Maria Mitchell: Life and Achievements

Maria Mitchell was a pioneering American astronomer known for discovering Miss Mitchell's Comet in 1847, earning her international recognition and a gold medal from King Christian VIII of Denmark. She became the first woman astronomer and professor at Vassar College, paving the way for women in science. Her legacy endures through institutions like the Maria Mitchell Association. Born in Nantucket in 1818, she was influenced by her Quaker upbringing and her father's passion for astronomy. Despite personal document losses, her contributions to astronomy remain significant.

What significant achievement brought Maria Mitchell international recognition?

• Winning a Nobel Prize

• Discovering a new planet

• Discovering a comet

• Inventing a telescope

Who awarded Maria Mitchell a gold medal for her astronomical discovery?

• Queen Victoria

• King Christian VIII of Denmark

• President Abraham Lincoln

• Emperor Napoleon III

In what year did Maria Mitchell become the first woman to work as a professional astronomer and professor?

• 1880

• 1875

• 1865

• 1847

Which institution did Maria Mitchell join as a professor?

• Harvard University

• Vassar College

• Yale University

• Princeton University

What is one of the institutions named after Maria Mitchell?

• The Mitchell Planetarium

• The Maria Mitchell Observatory

• The Mitchell Space Institute

• The Mitchell Science Center

Where was Maria Mitchell born?

• Providence, Rhode Island

• New York City, New York

• Nantucket, Massachusetts

• Boston, Massachusetts

What was the profession of Maria Mitchell's father?

• Professional astronomer

• Amateur astronomer

• Mathematician

• Physicist

At what age did Maria Mitchell help calculate the exact moment of a solar eclipse?

• 15 years old

• 18 years old

• 10 years old

• 12 years old

What role did Maria Mitchell hold at the Nantucket Athenaeum?

• First Librarian

• Chief Librarian

• Library Volunteer

• Assistant Librarian

What religious affiliation did Maria Mitchell adopt later in her life?

• Unitarianism

• Buddhism

• Catholicism

• Judaism