The Glass Universe, by Dava Sobel

People

Vocabulary

Dr. Henry Draper Anna Palmer Draper – funded research Edward Pickering – director of Harvard College Observatory, 1877-1919 Lizzie – wife William Pickering – Edward’s younger brother, first director Southern Hemisphere Observatory Solon Bailey – found site for Southern Hemisphere Observatory, 2nd director Catherine Wolfe Bruce – funded 24” telescope and more Williamina “Mina” Fleming – started as maid, developed classification system for stars, discovered 10 novae and 300+ variable stars 1906 granted honorary membership in Royal Astronomical Society Had 30-year career Antonia Maury – Henry Draper’s niece; Vassar grad; studied physics, astronomy and philosophy; expanded Fleming’s classification system Henrietta Swan Leavitt – Radcliff alumna, discovered thousands of variable stars Annie Jump Cannon – first female to examine stars at night by telescope Margaret Harwood - 1912 – first recipient Nantucket Maria Mitchell Assoc. fellowship 1915 – first woman in charge of independent observatory Dr. Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin – discovered stars the same in chemical composition, different in temperature in 1925

Photometry – measurement of brightness of stars Polaris – North Star, basis for brightness scale Mizar – star in handle of Big Dipper Nova – new or temporary star Eros – newly discovered asteroid in 1898

For Discussion:

NOTE: Page numbers are from paperback edition.

1. Discuss the pace of the advancement of the women in the book.
1. Miss Cannon – 1896-1897, first time woman used telescope herself (page 75)
2. Antonia Maury – 1897, first time woman credited with authorship in Annals of the Harvard College Observatory (page 79)
3. Mina Fleming – 1899, named curator of astronomical photographs, the first woman to hold a title at observatory, college or university (page 89)
4. Margaret Harwood – 1915, first woman in charge of an independent observatory (page 167)
5. 1930 – women did not have to resign when married (page 228)
6. 1938 – Harvard officially named Annie Cannon as Astronomer and Curator; Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin as Phillips Astronomer (page 244)
7. 1956 – Harvard named first woman as full professor (page 258)
2. Until 1930, if a woman married, she had to quit the observatory.   Why do you think the women were so dedicated to their science? 
3. After WW I, some scientists wanted to exclude scientists from enemy countries from postwar professional societies (page 173).  Do you think they should have been excluded or was the advancement of science more important? Warner Von Braun once worked for the Nazis but was instrumental in our space exploration program and landing man on the moon.
4. What did you like or not like about this book?  What did you learn?  
5. If you did not like it, why do you think it received as average review on Amazon of 4 ½ stars?

*****
First Semester Success, 2nd edition, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available as an eBook and hard copy from amazon.com and hard copy from wordassociation.com.