June 28, 1889: American astronomer Maria Mitchell died at age seventy in Lynn, Massachusetts. The first American woman to work as a professional astronomer, she discovered a comet, which as a result became known as "Miss Mitchell's Comet" and won a gold medal prize for her discovery, which was presented to her by King Frederik VI of Denmark. She became the first woman elected Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1848 and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1850.
#mariamitchell #astronomy #thisdayinhistory