The Daughters of Urania By Nancy L. Thomas The daughters of Urania are many and each unique and varied as the charming wildflowers in an open field. A glance at history will reveal those women who were simply supportive of their menfolk as the men struggled to make sense of the Universe and its secrets. Then, there were those that used the resources available to them to aid in the advancement of astronomy. While others went on to make significant discoveries of their own and their names permanently recorded in the annuals of astronomy. But I like to think that ALL the daughters of Urania, past, present and future; amateur or professional, do share two things in common. At one time each looked out into the heavens and each carries, deep within her soul, a spark of heavenly fire. We now turn our attention to some of those individuals who left their imprint on the pages of astronomy and who serve as inspiration to us here in the present and to those that come after us. Hypatia has a special place in my heart as she represents the epitome of a woman scientist. Not only was she intelligent, but talented and reportedly, quite beautiful. Her life story is amazing as its ending is sad. Hypatia was born in Alexandria in 370 A.D. and was the daughter of Theon the Younger. During her life she was a mathematician, physicist, astronomer, author and lecturer on many subjects. She was also credited with having invented an astrolabe and a planisphere. Sadly, Hypatia lived in the era of Roman rule where unrest was rampant and slavery prevailed. However, Hypatia moved freely and unmolested. Many suitors sought her hand in marriage, but she never married. She did have a close relationship with the Roman governor, and with Crestes, the pagan prefect of the city. Because of this, Cyril, the Archbishop of Alexandria, grew to despise Hypatia. Hypatia represented the spread of knowledge which the Christian Church sought to suppress as well as the Romans and the pagan culture. One account has it that the 45 year old Hypatia was on her way to give a lecture and was attacked by a group of monks who didn’t like the idea that a woman was going to lecture. On that terrible day in 415 A.D., Hypatia was dragged from her chariot to Caesareum (a Christian church at the time), her clothing torn off, and her flesh deeply cut with the abalone shells carried by the mob. It is said that her body was quartered and then burnt at Cinaron. Her name was forgotten and all that she had accomplished during her lifetime. A senseless death equal to that of Giordano Bruno. Centuries will pass before science and knowledge will once again flourish. Meanwhile, civilization begins its journey into the Dark Ages. Selenographers were kind to Hypatia and assigned a small, irregular lunar crater in her honor. The small crater is located on the rim of Sinus Asperitatis (Bay of Asperity) and is not far from the craters assigned to her father and grandfather. We now come to the 15th century and find two women who served as assistants. The first was the wife of Johann Mueller or also known as Regiomontanus. The other was Sophia Brahe who assisted her brother, Tycho. However, a third woman should be mentioned. Her name is Duchesse de Ferrare or Renee de France. Her court provided a sanctuary for the scholars and other learned men who were being persecuted by the French Calvinists. Apparently, she had an active interest in astronomical theories. Moving to the 17th century we find a number of women who authored books on astronomy, worked on astronomical tables, made observations, while others, provided a meeting place for scientists, poets, and others. During this time, Hevelius was assisted by his wife, Elizabeth Maragarethe. Lalande was assisted by Mme. Hortense Lepante, until she became blind. March 16th, 1750 saw the birth of the greatest woman astronomer of that time. The baby was called Caroline Herschel. Caroline, like Hypatia, has a special place in my heart. Yes, she discovered 8 comets in 11 years, was elected honorary member of the Royal Astronomical Society, and received other honors, but I find the most wonderful thing about her was her special devotion to her brother, William. After William fled to England from Germany, Caroline followed with the hopes of singing in the orchestra, but providence had other plans for her. Caroline was soon keeping house for William. No small chore when one considers that virtually every room in the house would be turned into some sort of workshop! Not only that, but Caroline would also read to William as he ground the mirrors for his telescopes, made sure he was eating, and noting down his observations as he made them at the telescope. And what must have made it especially difficult was staying up late at night waiting for the weather to clear, if it did at all! But, soon, Caroline was off making her own observations and discoveries. Quite a lady! Up until 1988, there were only two portraits of Caroline and those were of her when she was elderly. But, Lisa Joy Rosowsky, an artist from Needham, Massachusetts, took those portraits, studied them, gathered all the information she could about Caroline, and proceeded to paint a portrait of a much younger Caroline. Because Caroline was attracted to the theater, the artist depicted Caroline in costume and with the appropriate hair style. While this Caroline was not especially attractive, she did have an intelligent look about her. Caroline died in 1848 at the age of 97 years old. Part II next month.