Women Astronomers: Reaching for the Stars (Discovering Women in Science)

It's really a shame that in this day and age a book like this should be necessary, but even a quick glance through the contents will open readers' eyes to just how many female astronomers have been neglected by standard history. The book is well-written and interesting, as well as inspiring, with numerous sidebars explaining various scientific and historical concepts and offering many brief bios of women astronomers who aren't given a full chapter. Highly recommended.

Over five thousand years ago, ancient Babylonian priestesses correctly anticipated solar eclipses and arrivals of comets. "Women Astronomers: Reaching for the Stars" is a part of Stone Pine Presses' Discovering Women in Science Series, and outlines how the fairer sex has made significant contributions to the science of astronomy, focusing on the past hundred years with references to such ancient contributions such as the Babylonian priestesses above. Author Mabel Armstrong, a teacher of science for over a quarter of a century, speaks of her own obstacles in the field and gives advice to other aspiring female astronomers. "Women Astronomers: Reaching for the Stars" is highly recommended for women's studies and science shelves everywhere and for any girl astronomer-to-be.

Reviewed by Avery Largent (9) for Reader Views (5/08) "Women Astronomers: Reaching for the Stars" is an exciting book of many tales of (yeah, you guessed it!) amazing women astronomers throughout time. Starting with EnHeduanna, born 2350 BC, and ending with Jill Cornell Tarter, born 1944, this book leads you through an exciting track of those historic women who became astronomers, despite what troubles come in their way. At first glance, "Women Astronomers: Reaching for the Stars" seems like a boring old science book. But if you take a closer look, you'll see it's an exciting and inspiring book. I think all girls who hope to be scientists or astronomers should read it. In the stories, it doesn't just talk about the women and about how they did certain things, it also explains the science behind their discoveries. In one spot, it shows how astronomers use physical constants. The speed of light is one constant astronomers use, and I found that part a very interesting read. When the author explains things, you feel like you're a scientist yourself, sitting in a science lab and learning to be an astronomer alongside these other great women. Author Mabel Armstrong is obviously an expert in science. She knows so much about each astronomer, you might have thought she had been friends with every one of these fantastic women. Beside her knowledge, her musical, descriptive words tell inspiring stories. The women in the story show spirit, bravery, and determination. Most of the women in the stories are unsupported by their families just because they are women. They were not taken seriously. When the astronomers were interviewed in their time periods, they were asked silly and personal questions that sometimes didn't even relate to space, like, "Do you cry when you get angry?" However, the women always just ignored their skeptics, and they worked hard to become what they had aimed to be. Anyone who reads this book will be inspired to follow the lead of these amazing women. I would recommend "Women Astronomers: Reaching for the Stars" to my friends, and I am excited to reread the book. It's a real page-turner; the exciting tales keep you reading for hours on end. I hope every girl who wants to be an astronomer at least once reads these engrossing stories. I'm looking forward to reading whatever Mabel Armstrong comes out with next.

In this comprehensive study of the life and contributions of women astronomers throughout the ages, author Mabel Armstrong shows that she has truly done her research. Filled with great photographs, interesting sidebars, and fun timelines, WOMEN ASTRONOMERS: REACHING FOR THE STARS gives information on twenty-one influential female astronomers. Included are: EnHeduanna: Chief Astronomer of the Moon Goddess of the City Hypatia of Alexandria: Astronomer, Engineer, Physicist, Inventor Hildegard of Bingen: Heard the music of the spheres Caroline Herschel: She and her brother revolutionized the study of astronomy Marla Mitchell: The most famous American astronomer of her time Williamina Stevens Fleming: Founding mother of the Harvard women astronomers Annie Jump Cannon: Built a star catalog of more than 350,000 stars Henrietta Swan Leavitt: Discovered a way to measure distances between stars Antonia Caetana Maury: Developed a new system for classifying stars Cecilia Payne Gaposchkin: Called the most brilliant astronomer of her generation Helen Sawyer Hogg: Canada's favorite astronomer for fifty years Margaret Burbidge: Described the way chemical elements form in stars Nancy Roman: Pioneered radio astronomy and orbiting observatories Beatrice Tinsley: A brilliant career cut tragically short Jocelyn Bell Burnell: Discovered quasars Margaret Geller: Found structure in the Universe Carolyn Shoemaker: Looks for comets that threaten Earth Sally Ride: Astrophysicist and first U.S. woman in space Jill Tartar: Searches for extra-terrestrial life Wendy Freedman: Builds big telescopes and settles Hubble Constant Spanning in time from around 2350 BCE to the present, this is a book that's perfect for anyone interested in astronomy, but especially young girls. They'll be sure to find plenty of wonderful information and inspiration within the pages of this book, which can only be a good thing. Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"