Williamina Fleming

Williamina Fleming was a pioneering astrophysicist in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Hired as a "computer" at the Harvard Observatory, she classified thousands of stars, developing a system that is still used today. Fleming discovered the first white dwarf star and contributed significantly to the understanding of stellar spectra—the patterns of light emitted by stars that reveal their composition and temperature. Her work laid the groundwork for modern astrophysics, highlighting the vital role women played in science during a time when they were often marginalized. Fleming’s contributions advanced our knowledge of the universe significantly.