Pickering's Computers: Hinges of Astronomical History

Local astronomer Jerry Jones will present an interesting bit of history involving women who played important roles in the science of astronomy in the late 19th century.  Jerry will discuss the nature of astronomy, and how we got some of the most important astronomical discoveries.  He will set the stage by discussing the state of astronomy in the 1850s, the state of women in the 1850s, the Harvard College Observatory and its director, Edward Pickering, and then dive into the details of the dilemma of an overabundance of data, and the problem solving that ensued.  All are welcome.