Annie Jump Cannon played a crucial role in creating the OBAFGKM classification system still used to categorize stars. As a young adult, Cannon became almost completely deaf, likely due to scarlet fever. Despite the communication challenges she faced, she developed an extraordinary ability to focus intensely on photographic plates, noticing patterns of starlight across hundreds of thousands of images.

How deafness hindered her:
Cannon sometimes struggled to take part in group discussions and had difficulty hearing lectures and meetings. In a male-dominated field, her deafness sometimes led peers to overlook her expertise or assume she preferred solitary work.

How deafness helped her:
Her reduced hearing allowed her to concentrate for long hours without distraction. She became incredibly skilled at identifying small differences in spectra — something that required a calm, focused mind. Her pattern-recognition skills were unmatched.

Why she matters:
Cannon reminds students that focus, attention to detail, and visual strength are powerful scientific tools.

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