Today on the Google home page in America is a special Google logo for Maria Mitchell, the first professional female astronomer.
She is best known for the discovery of a comet named after her, the "Miss Mitchell's Comet."
Maria Mitchell discovered the comet on October 1, 1847 and was awarded a gold metal award from King Frederick VI of Denmark for it.
Maria was born on August 1, 1818 in Nantucket, Massachusetts and died on June 28, 1889, at the age of 70 in Lynn, Massachusetts. She was one of ten children, growing up in Quaker religion but later adopted Unitarianism.
In 1905, Mitchell was inducted into the Hall of Fame for Great Americans in the Bronx, New York.
Today's Google logo represents her work, life style and the Google logo all at the same time.
Forum discussion at Google Web Search Help.