Elisabeth Hevelius

Dutch, German, and Polish astronomer Elisabeth Hevelius (1647-1683).
Credit: Linda Hall Library

Elisabeth Hevelius was born in Danzig (Gdańsk), Poland in January 1647. Elisabeth had an early fascination for astronomy. She married prominent astronomer Johannes Hevelius in 1663 and began an observing partnership with him. At the time, Johannes was compiling a new catalog of stars and their positions, and Elisabeth joined him in this endeavor. Johannes died before this catalog was completed, but Elisabeth secured funding to complete the catalog which was then published in 1690 under the title Prodromus astronomiae. Elisabeth was one of the first female astronomers of the early modern era.

Johannes and Elisabeth Hevelius observing and recording the heavens using a sextant.
Credit: Linda Hall Library