Yesterday I had a Shaker visitor, and today a Catholic; and the more I see and hear, the less do I care about church doctrines.

At home Maria's father taught her astronomy using his personal telescope. She became professor of astronomy at Vassar College in 1865 the first person (male or female) appointed to the faculty. She was also named as Director of the Vassar College Observatory.

She won a gold medal prize for her discovery which was presented to her by King Frederick VII of Denmark. Maria Mitchell (August 1 1818 – June 28 1889) (pron: ma-RY-ah) was an American astronomer who in 1847 by using a telescope discovered a comet which as a result became known as the "Miss Mitchell's Comet".