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Monday, March 04, 2002

Maria Kirch was born Feb. 25, 1670, in Germany to a Protestant minister and his wife. Although she had no formal education, she probably became interested in the study of astronomy through Christoph Arnold of Summerfield, who was known as the "astronomical peasant." His self-taught knowledge of astronomy was so impressive that the council of Leipzig, where he lived, granted him money and freedom from taxes for life.

Maria married Gottfried Kirch, an astronomer, when she was 22. Her husband took over the task of educating her in the science. The Kirches worked together, making observations and forming calculations based on their studies, until Gottfried's death in 1710.. In 1702, Maria independently discovered a bright comet.

Although she was associated with the Berlin Academy through her husband, she was denied membership because she was a woman. After Gottfried's death, she continued to publish on her own, and worked on calculating a calendar.

Recognizing she did not have much chance of working as an independent astronomer, Kirch decided to work in the Baron von Krosigk's observatory, where she wrote and expanded her observations. She lived there from 1712 until the baron's death in 1714. Then she returned to Leipzig. She eventually turned down an invitation from Peter the Great to visit Russia and instead moved for a while to Danzig at the invitation of the Hevelius family -- world-renowned astronomers -- and stayed in their house.

After returning to Leipzig, Kirch worked with her son, Christoph, who became an astronomer of the Berlin Academy in 1716. She joined him at the academy (not as an official member) until her death Dec. 29, 1720.

-- By Jennifer Cramer, intern, Henry Buhl, Jr. Planetarium & Observatory