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Mitchell (MARIA an American astronomer)

MARIA, an American astronomer; born in Nantucket, Mass., Aug. 1, 1818. She inherited her father's love of astronomy, which she made her life-work. She discovered a considerable number of nebulæ and a comet (in 1847), for which she received a medal from the King of Denmark. She was librarian of the Nantucket Athenæum for many years, and a computer on the "American Nautical Almanac." Professor of Astronomy and Director of the Observatory of Vassar College, 1865-1888. She took part in several eclipse expeditions with parties of her students. She died in Lynn, Mass., June 28, 1889.