Astronomer Helen Sawyer Hogg, Examining Globular Clusters

Dr. Helen Sawyer Hogg spent her life watching the skies through the lens of a telescope, searching for Globular Clusters, encouraging star-gazing and promoting astronomy

A young student at Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts in 1922, Helen Battles Sawyer was set on being a chemist. A class trip to watch the eclipse of the sun in Connecticut in 1925 opened her eyes to a different branch of science. On completing her degree the next year, Helen transferred to Harvard University for graduate studies at the Harvard Observatory. She completed a Master’s degree in Astronomy in 1928 and three years later, earned a Ph.D in 1931. (Harvard did not award science degrees to women, so both of Helen’s advanced degrees were from Radcliffe College, noted University of Toronto.) In the meantime, another astronomy student had caught her eye, Frank Hogg. They were married in 1930. On graduation, Helen became Dr. Sawyer Hogg.

Observing Stars with a 72-inch Telescope

The newlyweds moved to Victoria, BC for Frank’s position on staff at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory. Helen used the opportunity to continue her work, unpaid at the time, with a large 72-inch telescope, searching the night skies for variable stars in globular clusters. The Hoggs also became parents, taking baby Sally to work with them at night. Helen’s husband transferred to the University of Toronto’s Astronomy department, moving his young family to Richmond Hill, Ontario. Eventually, he became Head of the Department of Astronomy and Director of the David Dunlap Observatory. Helen, after giving birth to sons David and James in 1935 and 1937, became even more involved in astronomy, travelling to Arizona and Texas for observations, and earning the post of Visiting Professor and Acting Chairman of the Mount Holyoke astronomy department in 1940.

Bringing Astronomy to Everyone

Taking a position at the University of Toronto in 1941, Helen scanned the heavens for stars at night and taught classes by day. She became a professor in 1957, and was already a prolific author of many astronomy articles (over 200 in total), and several reference books on the subject she loved so much. Her articles appeared in The Journal in a section called “Out of Old Books” and in the Toronto Star newspaper column, “With the Stars” from 1951 to 1981. (Helen’s husband, Frank Hogg, died suddenly in 1951.) The starry night skies were brought to the general public in Helen’s astronomy series on TV Ontario in 1970; Doubleday Canada published her book written while a retired Professor Emeritus, “The Stars Belong to Everyone” in 1976. She was a popular, beloved teacher and author, sharing the wonders of the universe with any who were interested, a “warm, genuine scientist, who explained astronomy at the appropriate level to all who would listen,” mentioned an obituary on the University of Toronto site.

Sawyer Hogg Searched for Variable Stars

Chasing the variable stars in globular clusters was Helen’s main focus in astronomy. “She developed a technique for measuring the distance of galaxies beyond the Milky Way”, said San Diego Supercomputer Center, taking photos of the variable stars and recording changes. “Her detailed observations were published in catalogues that are still used today.” The variable stars and globular clusters may provide clues to the age of the galaxy and its evolution. Helen’s detailed and authoritative work over six decades may help open doors to answer these mesmerizing questions.

Order of Canada for Sawyer Hogg

Awards and honours flooded in for Dr. Sawyer Hogg’s great accomplishments. Among the honours too numerous to name fully, six prestigious universities in the United States and Canada bestowed honourary degrees upon Helen. The American Astronomical Society’s Annie Jump Cannon Prize was awarded to her in 1950. She was given the Officer of the Order of Canada in 1968 and eight years later, awarded Canada’s top honour, Companion of the Order of Canada. Two observatories are named in Helen’s honour, one in San Juan, Argentina, the other at Technology Park of the Canada Science and Technology Museum in Ottawa, Ontario. Most notable, Asteroid 2917 was dubbed Sawyer Hogg in honour of the inspiring astronomer in 1984.

At age 80, Helen remarried in 1985. Her new husband, F. Priestly, was a Professor Emeritus of English at the University of Toronto who shared his wife’ interest in astronomy. He died only three years after marriage. In 1993, a heart attack claimed Helen’s life at age 87, leaving behind her three grown children (one of whom, David, is an astronomer in Virginia) and 11 grand- and great-grandchildren. A role model for women – and men – in the sciences,

Helen Sawyer Hogg brought the stars into clear and fascinating view for professionals and amateurs alike.

NOTE:  Ottawa’s Canada Science Museum of Technology named the Observatory after the remarkable Helen Sawyer-Hogg in 1989:

Historical plaque at the Observatory named for brilliant astronomer Helen Sawyer-Hogg, 1989.

This article first appeared on Suite101.com in 2009. (C) Susanna McLeod