Opera AACC, the AACC Chamber Singers and the AACC Concert Choir present “Computing Venus,” an opera inspired by the life of astronomer Maria Mitchell.

"Computing Venus" is an opera in one act inspired by the life of astronomer, Maria Mitchell. The production provides a fascinating glimpse into Mitchell's life which spanned from 1818 to 1889. As a groundbreaking historical figure who paved the way for women in STEM in America, Mitchell made history at the age of 29 when she discovered a comet from the rooftop of her house in Nantucket. A year later, she was hired as the official Computer of Venus for the United States, becoming the only professional woman astronomer in the country. From 1865 on, Mitchell focused on cultivating the next generation of women astronomers as the first female professor of astronomy at Vassar College. By the 1870s, however, Mitchell saw a growing backlash against women in science. At the center of the debate was Harvard physician Edward Clarke, who claimed that education had a damaging effect on young women. Focusing on Mitchell’s struggles against shifting public opinion and rumors about her sexuality, Computing Venus highlights one woman’s efforts to ensure a lasting scientific legacy, even as movements outside her classroom threaten to close the world of science to women forever.

The show is performed with a string quartet, clarinet and piano.

Learn more here.