ANNIE JUMP CANNON Born: Dover, Delaware, December 11, 1863 Died: Cambridge, Massachusetts, April 13, 1941

ANNIE JUMP CANNON ELDEST DAUGHTER TO WILSON CANNON, SHIPBUILDER AND DELAWARE STATE SENATOR, AND HIS SECOND WIFE, MARY JUMP ELDEST DAUGHTER TO WILSON CANNON, SHIPBUILDER AND DELAWARE STATE SENATOR, AND HIS SECOND WIFE, MARY JUMP MOTHER FUELED HER INTEREST IN ASTRONOMY BY TEACHING HER THE CONSTELLATIONS MOTHER FUELED HER INTEREST IN ASTRONOMY BY TEACHING HER THE CONSTELLATIONS

EXTENSIVE EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND graduated from Wellesley College in graduated from Wellesley College in became a "special student" of astronomy at Radcliffe College in 1894 became a "special student" of astronomy at Radcliffe College in 1894 received an M.A. from Wellesley College in 1907 received an M.A. from Wellesley College in 1907 received an honorary doctorate from the University of Delaware in 1918 received an honorary doctorate from the University of Delaware in 1918 was the first woman to receive a doctor of astronomy degree from Groningen University, in was the first woman to receive a doctor of astronomy degree from Groningen University, in was the first woman to receive an honorary degree from Oxford in 1925 was the first woman to receive an honorary degree from Oxford in 1925 received an honorary doctorate from Wellesley College in 1925 received an honorary doctorate from Wellesley College in 1925 received an honorary doctorate from Oglethorpe University in 1935 received an honorary doctorate from Oglethorpe University in 1935 received an honorary doctorate from Mount Holyoke College in 1937 received an honorary doctorate from Mount Holyoke College in

CAREER ASTRONOMER THEORIST OF STAR SPECTRA

CAREER “In 1896 Annie Jump Cannon was hired by Professor Edward Charles Pickering, director of the Harvard College Observatory to catalogue variable stars and classify the spectra of southern [hemisphere] stars.” “In 1896 Annie Jump Cannon was hired by Professor Edward Charles Pickering, director of the Harvard College Observatory to catalogue variable stars and classify the spectra of southern [hemisphere] stars.” “Pickering conceived the Henry Draper Memorial as a long-term project to obtain optical spectra of as many stars as possible and to index and classify stars by their spectra.” “Pickering conceived the Henry Draper Memorial as a long-term project to obtain optical spectra of as many stars as possible and to index and classify stars by their spectra.”

ACCOMPLISHMENTS She devised the "arbitrary" division of stars into the spectral classes O, B, A, F, G, K, M. (mnemonically recognized as Oh Be A Fine Girl Kiss Me) She devised the "arbitrary" division of stars into the spectral classes O, B, A, F, G, K, M. (mnemonically recognized as Oh Be A Fine Girl Kiss Me) It was far simpler than existing divisions. Her Draper Catalogues ultimately listed over 400,000 stars It was far simpler than existing divisions. Her Draper Catalogues ultimately listed over 400,000 stars

ACCOMPLISHMENTS Cannon also published catalogs of variable stars (including 300 she discovered). Cannon also published catalogs of variable stars (including 300 she discovered). One notable variable star that Cannon discovered is the dwarf nova, SS Cygni which repeated its outburst cycle about every 60 days. One notable variable star that Cannon discovered is the dwarf nova, SS Cygni which repeated its outburst cycle about every 60 days.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT CANNON’S WORK The Variable Star– “Variable stars are stars that change brightness. The brightness changes of these stars can range from a thousandth of a magnitude to as much as twenty magnitudes over periods of a fraction of a second to years, depending on the type of variable star.” The Variable Star– “Variable stars are stars that change brightness. The brightness changes of these stars can range from a thousandth of a magnitude to as much as twenty magnitudes over periods of a fraction of a second to years, depending on the type of variable star.”

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT CANNON’S WORK TYPES OF VARIABLE STARS EXTRINSIC– “variability is due to the eclipse of one star by another or the effects of stellar rotation.” INTRINSIC– “variation is due to physical changes in the star or stellar system.” <

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT CANNON’S WORK EXTRINSIC VARIABLES INCLUDE; AND VARIABLES EXTRINSIC VARIABLES INCLUDE; ECLIPSING BINARY AND ROTATING VARIABLES INTRINSIC VARIABLES INCLUDE; AND VARIABLES INTRINSIC VARIABLES INCLUDE; ERUPTIVE [CATACLYSMIC] AND PULSATING VARIABLES

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT CANNON’S WORK Research on variable stars is important because it provides information about stellar properties, such as mass, radius, luminosity, temperature, internal and external structure, composition, and evolution. Research on variable stars is important because it provides information about stellar properties, such as mass, radius, luminosity, temperature, internal and external structure, composition, and evolution. Stellar Spectroscopy uses the absorption lines of stellar emissions/radiations to classify stars. Stellar Spectroscopy uses the absorption lines of stellar emissions/radiations to classify stars.

OBAFGKM There are new spectral types that expand on the OBAFGKM template, cataloging some rare spectral types. There are new spectral types that expand on the OBAFGKM template, cataloging some rare spectral types. Here are a few mnemonics from Here are a few mnemonics from O B A F G K M L T : Officially, Bill Always Felt Guilty Kissing Monica Lewinsky Tenderly Officially, Bill Always Felt Guilty Kissing Monica Lewinsky Tenderly O B A F G K M : Only Boys Accepting Feminism Get Kissed Meaningfully Only Boys Accepting Feminism Get Kissed Meaningfully

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