From Nick Greene,
Your Guide to Space / Astronomy.
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Women's History Month can trace its roots to 1911 in Europe, where March 8 was first celebrated as International Women's Day. Women's History Guide, Jone Lewis follows the rollercoaster ride through 1978 when "the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women began a 'Women's History Week' celebration. The week was chosen to coincide with International Women's Day, March 8." Three years later, congress finally established a National Women's History Week, which finally became Women's History Month in 1987. (Read more about the history of Women's History Month.)

Today, we celebrate the contibutions of women throughout history during the month of March. Here at About Astronomy and Space, we salute the many women who have been an integral part of the history of astronomy and space exploration. Here are but a few of an ever expanding list of women we recognize:

• Hypatia - mathematician, astronomer, and Platonic philosopher.
• Caroline Herschell - First Lady of Astronomy.
• Mary Somerville - Contemporary of Caroline Herschell.
• Maria Mitchell - First American woman astronomer.
• Williamina Fleming - Breaking gender barriers at Harvard.
• Valentina Tereshkova - First woman in space.
• Dr. Sally Ride - First American woman in space.
• Dr. Mae Jemison - First African-American woman in space.
• Dr. Judith Resnick - Hero who lost her life aboard the space shuttle Challenger.
• Christa McAuliffe - Hero who lost her life aboard the space shuttle Challenger.
• Kalpana Chawla - Hero who lost her life aboard the space shuttle Columbia.
• Laurel Clark - Hero who lost her life aboard the space shuttle Columbia.
• Dr. Beth Brown - NASA Astrophysicist.
• Eileen Collins - First woman to pilot a space shuttle, first woman to command the space shuttle, commander of the return to flight mission after Columbia disaster.