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American Masters

This Astronomer Discovered Over 300 Stars During Her Career

9m 34s

Williamina Fleming went from doing domestic work to being appointed the Curator of Astronomical Photographs at the Harvard College Observatory, making her the first woman to hold a title at Harvard University. She is credited with discovering 10 novae, over 300 variable stars, and 59 gaseous nebulae.

Aired: 05/05/20
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