Maria Zhilova
Russian astronomer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Maria Vasilyevna Zhilova (Russian: Мария Васильевна Жилова; 1870–1934) was the first female professional astronomer in the Russian Empire. She worked as astronomer and orbit calculator at the Pulkovo Observatory from 1895 to 1930.[1][2]
Life and work
Zhilova was born in Rybinsk, Russia.[3]
In 1905 she was given an award by the Russian Astronomical Society for her work in celestial mechanics.[1]
The asteroid 1255 Schilowa was named after her in 1932, at first spelled "Shilowa" (Russian: Ж и л о в а).[1][4] The crater Zhilova on Venus was named after her in 1985.[5]
She was one of the women discussed in a 2017 conference on "Women's Faces of Russian Science", where she was noted as "one of the first professional woman astronomers".[6]
She died in Saint Petersburg in 1934.[3]
Selected publications
- "Grossenbestimmung der Sterne im Sternhaufen 20 Vulpeculae". St. Petersb. AC. Sci. Bull. 2: 243–51. 1895.[7]
- Investigation of the spectrum of the star α Bootis according to spectrograms obtained in Pulkovo in 1906. In: Zapiski Imperatorskoj akademii nauk. VIII. series, After physical-mathematical division, Volume 23, 1908, No. 3[3]