Vera Rubin


Vera Rubin in 2009

Born: Vera Cooper; July 23, 1928; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died: December 25, 2016 (aged 88); Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.
Alma maters: Vassar College, Cornell University, Georgetown University
Known for: Galaxy rotation problem, dark matter, Rubin–Ford effect

Vera Florence Cooper Rubin (/ˈruːbɪn/; July 23, 1928 – December 25, 2016) was an American astronomer who pioneered work on galaxy rotation rates. She uncovered the discrepancy between the predicted and observed angular motion of galaxies by studying galactic rotation curves. Identifying the galaxy rotation problem, her work provided the first evidence for the existence of dark matter. These results were confirmed over subsequent decades.

Beginning her academic career as the sole undergraduate in astronomy at Vassar College, Rubin went on to graduate studies at Cornell University and Georgetown University, where she observed deviations from Hubble flow in galaxies and provided evidence for the existence of galactic superclusters. She was honored throughout her career for her work, receiving the Bruce Medal, the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society, and the National Medal of Science, among others.

Rubin spent her life advocating for women in science and was known for her mentorship of aspiring female astronomers. She pioneered the field for many, and, in 2015, the National Science Foundation Vera C. Rubin Observatory (LSST) began construction. Her legacy was described by The New York Times as "ushering in a Copernican-scale change" in cosmological theory.

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