Maria winkelmann kirch biography samples
What did maria winkelmann discover.
Maria Winkelmann Kirch (1670 -1720)
A German astronomer, Maria was taught by her father and uncle, who believed that she deserved the equivalent education bestowed upon boys.
Her interest in astronomy was nurtured and she studied with self-taught astronomer and farmer Christopher Arnold, for whom she eventually worked. Through Arnold, Maria developed a relationship with renowned astronomer and mathematician Gottfried Kirch.
C/1702 h1
Despite being 30 years her senior, they married and raised four children who all grew up to study astronomy with their parents.
Maria and Gottfried worked together on observations and calculations, as well as weather observations, to produce calendars, ephemeredes and almanacs that were used for navigation.
However, Maria was frequently seen as Gottfried’s assistant rather than an equal member of the team. But in 1702 Maria discovered her own comet (C/1702H1) and in doing so became the first woman to make such a discovery.
Her husband confirmed the observat
