During the late 19th century, the director of Harvard College Observatory made a bold move – he hired female researchers for his lab. Women had been volunteers before, but Edward Charles Pickering actually put them on the payroll. They worked as “human computers” – performing complex calculations and scrutinizing photographs to catalog the contents of the night sky. Their research produced important new discoveries in astronomy.

The new play Unsung Stars from local company Moving Dock Theatre imagines the life and work of those women. Dawn Arnold is founder and artistic director of Moving Dock. She also stars in the play. She recently joined us for a conversation, and began by speculating what led Pickering to tap women for the job.

Screening:
Unsung Stars
Tonight at 7:30
Adler Planetarium

Benefit Performance
Mar. 19 at 8 p.m.
Adler Planetarium
Call 312 629-6044 for more information.

Music Button:  Big Star, “The Ballad of El Goodo”, from the CD #1 Record, (Stax)