She Invented That A digital museum of women in science

Scientist Exhibit

Annie Jump Cannon

Astronomy & Astrophysics

1863 – 1941 United States

Developed the stellar classification sequence used in modern astronomy

Overview Institutions
Annie Jump Cannon

Overview

About Annie Jump Cannon

Annie Jump Cannon classified hundreds of thousands of stellar spectra at the Harvard College Observatory. She organized stars into the sequence O, B, A, F, G, K, and M, a system based on spectral features and closely connected to stellar temperature. Her work created an enduring framework used by astronomers worldwide.

Scientific Contribution

Key Discovery

Harvard stellar classification system

The stellar spectral classification sequence that became the foundation of modern stellar classification.

Life Timeline

Important Moments

1896

career

Joins Harvard College Observatory

Cannon joined the Harvard College Observatory and began the stellar-classification work for which she became internationally known.

1901

discovery

Refines the stellar classification sequence

Cannon developed the practical O-B-A-F-G-K-M spectral sequence, organising stars primarily by temperature and spectral characteristics.

1911

career

Becomes curator of astronomical photographs at Harvard

Cannon became curator of astronomical photographs at Harvard College Observatory while continuing large-scale stellar classification.

1918

publication

Publishes the first volume of the Henry Draper Catalogue

The Henry Draper Catalogue began publication with Cannon's classifications, ultimately cataloguing spectra for hundreds of thousands of stars.

Places & Networks

Institutions