Date of Birth: December 11, 1863
Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius
Date of Death: April 13, 1941
Biography
Annie Jump Cannon was a pioneering American astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of astrophysics through her work on stellar classification. Born in Dover, Delaware, she developed an early interest in astronomy, encouraged by her mother. Cannon graduated from Wellesley College in 1884 with a degree in physics and astronomy, and later studied at Radcliffe College, where she worked under the guidance of Edward C. Pickering at the Harvard Observatory. Cannon is best known for her development of the Harvard Classification Scheme, which organizes and categorizes stars based on their temperatures and spectral types. Her system, known by the mnemonic “Oh Be A Fine Girl, Kiss Me,” is still used today. Over her career, she classified over 350,000 stars and discovered hundreds of variable stars, novae, and spectroscopic binaries. Despite the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated field, Cannon’s work earned her numerous accolades, including the Henry Draper Medal from the National Academy of Sciences and the first woman to receive an honorary doctorate from Oxford University. She was a suffragist and advocate for women in science, helping to pave the way for future generations. Cannon continued her work until her death in 1941. Her legacy endures, both in the stars she classified and the doors she opened for women in science.
5 Interesting Facts about Annie Jump Cannon
1. Annie Jump Cannon classified over 350,000 stars in her lifetime.
2. She was deaf for most of her career, which never hindered her astronomical work.
3. Cannon was the first woman to receive an honorary doctorate from Oxford University.
4. She was one of the first members and the first female officer of the American Astronomical Society.
5. Cannon discovered 300 variable stars, five novae, and one spectroscopic binary.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Annie Jump Cannon
1. “I am just an observer and a classifier of stars, but I find my greatest pleasure in studying the heavens.”
2. “The spectra of the stars have always been a source of wonder to me.”
3. “To me, astronomy is something like a game, with obstacles to be overcome, and the Universe as the playing field.”
4. “Classifying the stars has helped materially in all studies of the structure of the universe.”
5. “We are at the beginning of a new era, the time when astronomy will give us answers to questions we have wondered about for millennia.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
Annie Jump Cannon did not amass significant personal wealth; her contributions were more academic and scientific in nature.
Children
Annie Jump Cannon did not have any children.
Relevant Links
3. [Biography – Annie Jump Cannon](https://www.biography.com/scientist/annie-jump-cannon
4. [Wikipedia – Annie Jump Cannon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annie_Jump_Cannon
