Avenger of the Week | Margaret Burbidge, Astronomer

Famed astronomer Margaret Burbidge died this week at the age of 100 years old. Burbidge, sometimes referred to as Lady Stardust, was a major contributor to the understanding of stars, and she also played a major role in the development of the Hubble Space Telescope.

As is the case with most of our women Avengers of the Week, Burbidge didn’t have an easy time in her career as an astronomer. In one instance, she had to pose as her husband’s assistant to gain access to an observatory, and she was denied access to a telescope in another, the one tool necessary for advancing her studies and career. She kept at it, though, and later in her career she took a stand against the discrimination she faced when she turned down an award for women in astronomy, stating "It is high time that discrimination in favor of, as well as against, women in professional life be removed."

Astronomer Margaret Burbidge experienced discrimination like most women in science in her time, but she fought the system. She died at 100 this week, a famed astronomer (aka Lady Stardust) who made valuable contributions to her field. #GenderAvenger https://www.genderavenger.com/blog/avenger-of-the-week-margaret-burbidge-astronomer