Caroline Moore: 14-year old Astronomer

One of the things that I find very cool about astronomy is that it is one of the few fields of science in which amateurs can make important discoveries. One such amateur astronomer is Caroline Moore, who, at age 14, was the youngest person to ever discover a supernova.

Here she is featured on the "Moment of Geek" segment of the Rachel Maddow show:


She's great to watch because she's so enthusiastic and does a good job explaining her part of the project. She hasn't decided whether to become a scientist or study medicine or sing or pursue some other career. That's the beauty of being a teenager - her whole life is in front of her.

(I also am amused that they posed her with a small pink telescope, which she explains is not what she used to make the discovery.)

Tags: women in science, astronomy, Caroline Moore