02113cam a22003374a 4500 3064 FISKH 20240201160804.0 050131s2005 nyua b 001 0deng 2005002823 0393051285 DLC DLC DLC eng pcc n-us--- n-us-ma QB807 .J64 2005 522/.09/04 22 Johnson, George, 1952 January 20- Miss Leavitt's stars : the untold story of the woman who discovered how to measure the universe / George Johnson. New York : W.W. Norton, 2005 162 pages : illustrations ; 21 cm Includes bibliographical references (p. 149-150) and index. How big is the universe? In the early twentieth century, scientists took sides. One held that the entire universe was contained in the Milky Way galaxy; their champion was the strong-willed astronomer Harlow Shapley. Another camp believed that the universe was so vast that the Milky Way was just one galaxy among billions--the view that would prevail, proven by the equally headstrong Edwin Hubble. Almost forgotten is the Harvard Observatory Computer--a human number cruncher hired to calculate the positions and luminosities of stars in astronomical photographs--who found the key to the mystery. Radcliffe-educated Henrietta Swan Leavitt, fighting ill health and progressive deafness, stumbled upon a new law that allowed astronomers to use variable stars--those whose brightness rhythmically changes--as a cosmic yardstick. This book is both an account of how we measure the universe, and the moving story of a neglected genius.--From publisher description. Leavitt, Henrietta Swan, 1868-1921. Harvard College Observatory History. Astrometry History. Women astronomers United States Biography. Astronomical photometry. Astronomy United States History 20th century. 7 cbc orignew 1 ecip 20 y-gencatlg ddc BK 0 3064 3064 0 0 ddc 0 0 NFIC 001 001 TKSNF 2024-02-01 0 JOH 522.09 QB807.J64 FISSE03239 2024-02-01 16:08:00 2024-02-01 BK