Edith Kellman

Edith Kellman (April 4, 1911, Walworth, Wisconsin–May 11, 2007, Walworth, Wisconsin[1]) was a noted American astronomer who is known for her work on the Yerkes system of stellar classification, also called the MKK system.

Early life and education

Edith Kellman was born on April 4, 1911 in Walworth, Wisconsin to Ludvig and Ellen Levander Kellman.[1] Kellman attended Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois.[2]

Career

Kellman worked at the Yerkes Observatory as a photographic assistant, where she worked with William Morgan and Philip Keenan to develop the Yerkes system, an influential system of stellar classification. After leaving the observatory, she taught mathematics at Williams Bay High School.[2] The MKK classification system was introduced in 1943 and was used by Morgan, Keenan, and Kellman to map the spiral structure of the Milky way using O and B stars. A variation on this system is still used today in stellar classification.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 "Edith M. Kellman". Lake Geneva News. May 2007. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
  2. 1 2 Long, Jeff (14 May 2007). "Edith M. Kellman: 1911 - 2007: Teacher played key role in astronomers' work". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  3. ↑ John Daintith, PH.D., E Tootill, D Gjertsen, S Mitchell, eds. (1994). Biographical Encyclopedia of Scientists, Second Edition. CRC Press. ISBN 9780750302876.


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