Maria Cunitz
Maria Cunitz | |
|---|---|
A memorial to Maria Cunitz in Świdnica, Poland | |
| Born | 1610 |
| Died | 22 August, 1664 (aged 53–54) Pitschen, Duchy of Legnica, Holy Roman Empire |
| Known for | Urania propitia |
| Spouses | David von Gerstmann (m. 1623)Elias von Löwen (m. 1630) |
| Children | 3 |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Astronomy, mathematics |
| Academic advisors | Elias von Löwen |
Maria Cunitz or Maria Cunitia (other versions of surname include: Cunicia, Cunitzin, Kunic, Cunitiae, Kunicia, Kunicka; 1610 – 22 August 1664) was an accomplished Silesian astronomer, and the most notable female astronomer of the early modern era. She authored a book Urania propitia, in which she provided new tables, new ephemera, and a simpler working solution to Kepler's second law for determining the position of a planet on its elliptical path. The Cunitz crater on Venus is named after her. The minor planet 12624 Mariacunitia is named in her honour.