Annie Jump Cannon
Annie Jump Cannon (December 11, 1863 - April 13, 1941) was an American astronomer whose work was essential in developing the modern stellar classification system. At the Harvard Observatory, she contributed to the monumental project of cataloging hundreds of thousands of stars and refined the spectral classification into the O-B-A-F-G-K-M sequence, still used in contemporary astrophysics. Over her career, she cataloged more than 350,000 stars, establishing an international standard for spectral classification. Her work played a decisive role in understanding the physical properties of stars and advancing observational astronomy.
Quotes
- In our troubled days it is good to have something outside our planet, something fine and distant for comfort.