Annie Jump Cannon

Annie Jump Cannon was an American astronomer and physicist who made some of the biggest contributions in the field of astronomy that went on to lay the foundations of the subject as it is known in the present day. Cannon’s mother encouraged her to take an interest in astronomy and she went on to study physics. Cannon is credited with classifying more than half a million stars and her method of classification is still regarded as the standard as far as the classification of stars is concerned. It is often stated that she could identify a star simply by having a look at it and the books in which she published her finding are still regarded as the most authoritative book by trained astronomers. On the other hand, it is also important to point out that she worked in academia at a time when women weren’t encouraged to be in academics and her role in turning that theory on its head must also be lauded. She devoted her life to research and unwittingly broke down plenty of barriers, which is why it must be said that she left behind a rich legacy that is still celebrated in the scientific circles to this day.