Expressing support for the designation of August 1 as “National Woman Astronomers Day”.

Expressing support for the designation of August 1 as “National Woman Astronomers Day”.

Whereas “National Woman Astronomers Day” recognizes and emphasizes the importance of American women in astronomy, including—

(1) Maria Mitchell, the first American astronomer to discover a comet, the first woman appointed as a professor of astronomy in the United States, and a co-founder of the Association for the Advancement of Women;

(2) Dr. Annie Jump Cannon, a pioneer in the classification of stars and the first woman elected as an officer of the American Astronomical Society;

(3) Henrietta Swan Leavitt, who discovered a way to reliably calculate vast distances to astronomical objects, which led to a shift in the understanding of the scale and nature of the universe;

(4) Dr. Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, who determined that stars are composed primarily of hydrogen and helium and was the first woman to serve as a department chair at Harvard University;

(5) Dr. Nancy Grace Roman, the first woman to hold a senior executive role at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, its first Chief of Astronomy, and widely known as “The Mother of Hubble” for her foundational role in developing the Hubble Space Telescope, and for whom the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is named;

(6) Dr. Vera C. Rubin, whose observations of galaxy rotation curves provided key evidence for dark matter, and for whom the National Science Foundation Department of Energy Vera C. Rubin Observatory is named—the first United States national observatory named after a woman;

(7) Dr. E. Margaret Burbidge, who discovered how elements are formed in stars and revolutionized our understanding of stellar nucleosynthesis and served as the first female president of the American Astronomical Society;

(8) Dr. Barbara A. Williams, a leader in characterizing the hydrogen content of compact galaxy clusters with radio observations and the first African-American woman to earn a doctorate in astronomy;

(9) Dr. Sidney C. Wolff, whose research gave insight into magnetic stars and was the first woman to lead a United States National Observatory;

(10) Dr. Wendy Freedman, who conducts groundbreaking research on cosmology and the Hubble constant, refining the current estimate of the universe’s expansion rate;

(11) Dr. Elisa Quintana, who discovered the first Earth-sized exoplanet found in the habitable zone of a star other than the Sun;

(12) Dr. Jane Luu, a leader in the discovery and early characterization of Kuiper Belt objects and the first woman to be awarded the Shaw Prize in Astronomy;

(13) Dr. Andrea Ghez, who led research providing compelling evidence for a supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way and is the only woman to ever win a Nobel Prize for astronomy research; and

(14) countless other women whose pioneering achievements and dedication have expanded the frontiers of astronomy;

Whereas women’s contributions in the field of astronomy have been critical to its success;

Whereas women currently make up only 30 percent of the astronomical workforce;

Whereas increasing the number of women in the field of astronomy will be critical to maintaining a competitive workforce and programs; and

Whereas diversity in any field incorporates different experiences, which can ultimately lead to more creative and pioneering solutions: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

(1) recognizes the celebration of “National Woman Astronomers Day” as a time to reflect on the many notable contributions that women have made to the field of astronomy in the United States;

(2) urges the people of the United States to observe “National Woman Astronomers Day” with appropriate programs and activities; and

(3) affirms the commitment of the House of Representatives to ensuring that all women have equal access to opportunity in the field of astronomy.