Vera Rubin

Vera Rubin

Vera (Cooper) Rubin (23 July 1928 - ) is an astronomer who has done pioneering work on galaxy rotation rates. Her discovery of what is known as "flat rotation curves" is the most direct and robust evidence of dark matter (as of 2004).

She holds a B.A from Vassar College (1948), M.A from Cornell University (1951), and a Ph.D from Georgetown University (1954), as well as numerous honorary degrees and awards. Rubin is currently a research astronomer at the Carnegie Institution of Washington. So far she has co-authored 217 peer reviewed research papers.

All four of her children have earned PhDs in the natural sciences or math.

External links

Astronomical Society of the Pacific: Women in Astronomy

Lake Afton Public Observatory: Women in Astronomy

Astrophysics Data System - NASA's astronomy abstract service lists all peer reviewed astronomy publications.