Born: 1858 (Cheadle, Staffordshire)
Died: 1944
Biography:
Mary Adela Blagg FRAS (17 May 1858 – 14 April 1944) was an English astronomer who made significant contributions in the field of lunar cartography and variable stars. Born in Cheadle, Staffordshire, Blagg spent her entire life there.
Blagg’s interest in mathematics began at a young age as she taught herself the subject by reading her brother’s textbooks. In 1875, she was sent to a finishing school in Kensington, where she furthered her studies in algebra and German. Later, she worked as a Sunday school teacher and served as the branch secretary of the Girls’ Friendly Society.
It was during a university extension course on astronomy taught by Joseph Hardcastle, John Herschel’s grandson, that Blagg developed a passion for the field. Her tutor recommended her to work on selenography, specifically focusing on the development of a uniform system of lunar nomenclature. This area of research became a significant part of her career.
In 1905, Blagg was appointed by the International Association of Academies to compile a comprehensive list of all lunar features. Collaborating with Samuel Saunder, she meticulously worked on this tedious task, which resulted in the publication of the Muller-Blagg Catalog in 1913. The catalog identified numerous discrepancies in the naming of lunar features that required resolution by the association.
Blagg’s contributions extended beyond lunar cartography. She also conducted extensive research on variable stars in collaboration with Professor H. H. Turner. Their findings were published in ten articles in the Monthly Notices, where it was acknowledged that the majority of the work was carried out by Mary Blagg.
Recognizing her expertise and dedication, Blagg was elected to the British Astronomical Association in March 1906. Later, in January 1916, she became a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. This prestigious honor made her one of the first female Fellows of the society, joining a group of trailblazing women in the field of astronomy.
Blagg’s interests also encompassed the study of planetary distances. In 1913, she conducted a Fourier analysis of Bode’s Law, which corrected a significant flaw in the original law and provided a more solid physical foundation. Despite it being overlooked until 1953, Blagg’s predictions were ultimately validated by the discovery of previously unknown planetary satellites.
In 1920, Blagg joined the Lunar Commission of the International Astronomical Union. The commission entrusted her with continuing her work on standardizing lunar nomenclature, and she collaborated with Karl Müller, a retired government official and amateur astronomer. Together, they contributed to the further development of lunar cartography and the naming of lunar features.
Throughout her career, Blagg’s dedication to astronomy and her meticulous research significantly impacted the field. Her contributions in lunar cartography, variable stars, and planetary distances furthered our understanding of the moon and the universe. Mary Adela Blagg’s pioneering work paved the way for future generations of women in astronomy and continues to inspire scientists today.
Awards:
– Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society (1916)