In 1884, Cannon graduated from Wellesley as the valedictorian of her class. Cannon would later write Whiting’s biography for the Popular Astronomy journal. While at Wellesley she had the privilege to study under a pioneer in the field, Sarah Frances Whiting. Cannon took her mother’s advice and enrolled at Wellesley College to study physics and astronomy.
When it was time for Cannon to attend college, her mother encouraged her to study science and math. Although Cannon suffered from hearing loss at a very young age, she continued to excel in her studies. Jump would often open the trapdoor to the roof so they could watch the stars in the small observatory they built together. The first daughter of Wilson Lee Cannon and Mary Elizabeth Jump, Annie Cannon was inspired by her mother to pursue science. She became the first woman to receive a Doctor of Astronomy degree from Groningen University, the first woman ever to receive an honorary degree from Oxford University, and in 1931 she became the first woman to be awarded the Henry Draper Medal of honor from the National Academy of Sciences.Īnnie Jump Cannon was born on Decemin Dover, Delaware. Not only did she develop the important Harvard spectral system, she also classified about 350,000 stars manually. Known as the “census taker of the sky,” Annie Jump Cannon was a brilliant astronomer that revolutionized the way scientists classify stars. Learning Resources on Women's Political Participation.Women Writing History: A Coronavirus Journaling Project.