Cannon, Annie Jump

Born in Dover, Delaware. B.S. from Wellesley College, 1884, and M.A. from Wellesley in 1907. Developed the Harvard System of stellar spectral classifcation, proving that the vast majority of stars represent only a few species. Published star catalogs that together covered almost half a million stars. First woman to receive an honorary doctor's degree from Oxford University; first woman elected an officer of the American Astronomical Society; honorary member of the Royal Astronomical Society, London. In 1929, was listed as one of 12 "greatest living American women" by the National League of Women Voters; died in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Crater Cannon on the Moon's near side, east of Mare Crisium, is named in her honor.