Margherita Hack
Encyclopedia
Margherita Hack is an Italian astrophysicist and popular science
writer. The asteroid
8558 Hack
, discovered in 1995, was named in her honor.
, she received her laurea
in Physics
from the University of Florence, in 1945, with a thesis in Astrophysics
on Cepheid variable
s, after studies made in the Arcetri Observatory
. She was full Professor
of Astronomy
from 1964 to 1997 at the University of Trieste
; she retired in 1998.
She administered the Trieste Astronomical Observatory
from 1964 to 1987, making it become internationally well known.
She is a member of several Physics
and Astronomy
associations, and was director of the Astronomy Department at the University of Trieste
from 1985 to 1991 and from 1994 to 1997. She is a member of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei and of the Italian Union of Rationalist Atheists and Agnostics.
In Italy she is specially known for her rational atheistic views and her continual criticism of the Catholic Church and of its hierarchy and institutions.
Popular science
Popular science, sometimes called literature of science, is interpretation of science intended for a general audience. While science journalism focuses on recent scientific developments, popular science is broad-ranging, often written by scientists as well as journalists, and is presented in many...
writer. The asteroid
Asteroid
Asteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones...
8558 Hack
8558 Hack
8558 Hack is a main-belt asteroid discovered on August 1, 1995 by L. Tesi and A. Boattini at San Marcello Pistoiese.- External links :*...
, discovered in 1995, was named in her honor.
Biography
Born in FlorenceFlorence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, she received her laurea
Laurea
In Italy, the laurea is the main post-secondary academic degree.-Reforms due to the Bologna process:Spurred by the Bologna process, a major reform was instituted in 1999 to introduce easier university degrees comparable to the bachelors...
in Physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
from the University of Florence, in 1945, with a thesis in Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Astrophysics is the branch of astronomy that deals with the physics of the universe, including the physical properties of celestial objects, as well as their interactions and behavior...
on Cepheid variable
Cepheid variable
A Cepheid is a member of a class of very luminous variable stars. The strong direct relationship between a Cepheid variable's luminosity and pulsation period, secures for Cepheids their status as important standard candles for establishing the Galactic and extragalactic distance scales.Cepheid...
s, after studies made in the Arcetri Observatory
Arcetri Observatory
The Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri is an astronomical observatory located in Arcetri in the outskirts of Florence, Italy. Observatory staff carry out theoretical and observational astronomy as well as designing and constructing astronomical instrumentation...
. She was full Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
from 1964 to 1997 at the University of Trieste
University of Trieste
The University of Trieste is a medium-sized university in Trieste in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Italy. The university consists of 12 faculties, boasts a wide and almost complete range of university courses and currently has about 23,000 students enrolled and 1,000 professors...
; she retired in 1998.
She administered the Trieste Astronomical Observatory
Trieste Astronomical Observatory
The Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste is an astronomical center of studies located in Trieste, northern Italy....
from 1964 to 1987, making it become internationally well known.
She is a member of several Physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
and Astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
associations, and was director of the Astronomy Department at the University of Trieste
University of Trieste
The University of Trieste is a medium-sized university in Trieste in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Italy. The university consists of 12 faculties, boasts a wide and almost complete range of university courses and currently has about 23,000 students enrolled and 1,000 professors...
from 1985 to 1991 and from 1994 to 1997. She is a member of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei and of the Italian Union of Rationalist Atheists and Agnostics.
In Italy she is specially known for her rational atheistic views and her continual criticism of the Catholic Church and of its hierarchy and institutions.