Julie Marie Vinter Hansen (20 July 1890 – 27 July 1960) was a Danishastronomer. She is the first woman to be obtain a scientific degree in astronomy in Denmark.
While studying at the University of Copenhagen, she was appointed as acomputer at the University's observatory in 1915. She was the first woman to hold an appointment at the University.[1] She was later appointed observatory assistant and, in 1922, observer.
Career
Editor of Nordic Astronomy Review
She was a very energetic worker, who, along with her normal work of observing and performing mathematical reductions of observations took on the task of editing the Nordisk Astronomisk Tidsskrift (Nordic Astronomy Review).[1]
By 1939, Vinter Hansen was the First Astronomer at the Observatory of the University of Copenhagen, widely known for her accurate computation of orbits of minor planets and comets.
Tagea Brandt Rejselegat Award
In that 1939 she received the Tagea Brandt Rejselegat (travel award), given to women that have made big contributions on arts or science. With the award money (DKK 10.000 or 160,000 of actual US $) undertook a tour through the United States to Japan and back. On her return trip in 1940, the outbreak of World War II restricted her homeward journey.
Julie Vinter Hansen died in 1960, from a heart-failure just days before her retirement, in her beloved vacation destination, the Swiss mountain village of Mürren, and was buried in Copenhagen.[3] The minor planet 1544 Vinterhansenia, discovered by Finnish astronomer Liisi Oterma in the 1940s, was named in her honour.
Rasmusen, H.Q. (March 1961). "Julie Marie Vinter Hansen (obituary)". Quarterly Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society. 2: 38. Bibcode:1961QJRAS...2...38.