Many people have changed the course of history. Some were leaders or rulers, but many were scientists.
Scientists have helped us make sense of the night sky. Their work has shown us how the Universe works.
Read our profiles to explore the stories of scientists and astronomers from the past.
You may already recognise some well-known names, such as Galileo or Copernicus. But as you explore the profiles, you may also discover people you have not heard of before.
Many of these stories are often left out of history. This includes the work of women, scientists from outside Europe and the USA, and people from minority groups within those countries.
One example is Maria Mitchell. She was the first American woman to be paid to work as an astronomer.
In 1847, she discovered a comet that later became known as “Miss Mitchell’s Comet”. Maria also worked to increase the number of women in astronomy. She demanded equal pay for equal work.
Another example is Gan De, a Chinese astronomer. He was one of the first known people to record a catalogue of stars.
Gan De also studied sunspots. He did this more than 1,000 years before European astronomers. He carried out his work using only the naked eye, without a telescope.
Once you have explored the profiles, why not try our quiz? Test what you know about space and learn more about lesser-known scientists and astronomers from the past.