KIRCH, MARIA MARGARTHE

Astronomer (1670-1720)

Maria Kirch Winkelmann was a German astronomer. She worked with her husband assisting him in his astronomical work. She discovered a comet in 1702. Discovering comets was a big deal in those days. They were considered important and unique objects. Computing their orbits was a laborious and difficult task. After her husband's death she continued to publish their almanac. Almamacs were critical books used for positions of solar system objects, sunrise/set times, moonrise/set times, eclipses.

Return to Homepage