Question

In 1865, Maria Mitchell was the first female astronomer and professor at this university in NYC:

A) Columbia University.
B) New York University.
C) Fordham University.
D) The City College of New York.

Answer 1

Maria Mitchell, the first female astronomer and professor at Vassar College, was a forerunner for women like Annie Jump Cannon and Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin in astronomy.

Step-by-step explanation:

In 1865, Maria Mitchell was appointed the first female astronomer and professor at Vassar College, which is not listed among the options provided. The correct answer to the multiple-choice question is therefore not available. However, Maria Mitchell's achievements paved the way for other women in astronomy, such as Annie Jump Cannon and Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, who faced significant challenges in their careers due to gender discrimination. Cannon was the first woman to receive an honorary degree from Oxford and the first woman officer of the American Astronomical Society, while Payne-Gaposchkin's doctoral thesis laid the foundation for stellar astrophysics but did not immediately result in a formal appointment at Harvard because of her gender.