Early Work
These are lots of big, bright stars in space. Maria loved astronomy.
Winkelmann showed much skill as a pupil of Arnold, and soon became his apprentice. Her skill really impressed Arnold, and he made her his assistant. At this time she lived with the Arnold family.
A little while later, she was taught by a German astronomer named Gottfried Kirch how to produce calendars. Soon after, she went to work with Gottfried, producing calendars. However, the type of calendars Gottfried produced were not average calendars. The Kirch calendars included information on the phases of the moon, the setting of the sun, eclipses, and the position of the sun and the planets. They were a team. However, although Maria and Gottfried were equally skilled as astronomers, the social status of women at the time made it so Maria was Gottfried's assistant, not his partner. So, Maria worked as his assistant.
The calendars Maria and Gottfried produced were important to the Royal Berlin Academy of Sciences, and in 1700 Gottfried was offered the position of Astronomy Royal to Frederick III. Frederick was the elector of Brandenburg. He accepted, so Maria and Gottfried moved to Berlin in May 1700. A new observatory had began to be built for them. However, building the observatory would take eleven years, but Gottfried and Maria were not going to stop doing astronomy just to wait for the building to be finished. The observatory was officially founded on July 11th 1700, which is the King's birthday. Maria and Gottfried made observations from their home in Berlin. But then, they were given the opportunity of using Baron von Krosigk's observatory. Von Krosigk was an amateur astronomer that helped the family financially. This shows that the Astronomer Royal was not very well paid.
A little while later, she was taught by a German astronomer named Gottfried Kirch how to produce calendars. Soon after, she went to work with Gottfried, producing calendars. However, the type of calendars Gottfried produced were not average calendars. The Kirch calendars included information on the phases of the moon, the setting of the sun, eclipses, and the position of the sun and the planets. They were a team. However, although Maria and Gottfried were equally skilled as astronomers, the social status of women at the time made it so Maria was Gottfried's assistant, not his partner. So, Maria worked as his assistant.
The calendars Maria and Gottfried produced were important to the Royal Berlin Academy of Sciences, and in 1700 Gottfried was offered the position of Astronomy Royal to Frederick III. Frederick was the elector of Brandenburg. He accepted, so Maria and Gottfried moved to Berlin in May 1700. A new observatory had began to be built for them. However, building the observatory would take eleven years, but Gottfried and Maria were not going to stop doing astronomy just to wait for the building to be finished. The observatory was officially founded on July 11th 1700, which is the King's birthday. Maria and Gottfried made observations from their home in Berlin. But then, they were given the opportunity of using Baron von Krosigk's observatory. Von Krosigk was an amateur astronomer that helped the family financially. This shows that the Astronomer Royal was not very well paid.