Miss Leavitt's Stars: The Untold Story of the Woman Who Discovered How to Measure the Universe

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George Johnson

Miss Leavitt's Stars

The Untold Story of the Woman Who Discovered How to Measure the Universe

George Johnson

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English

Norton
08 January 2010

Mathematics & Sciences; Astronomy, space & time

Series: Great Discoveries

At the beginning of the twentieth century, scientists argued over the size of the universe: was it, as the astronomer Harlow Shapley argued, the size of the Milky Way, or was there more truth to Edwin Hubble's claim that our own galaxy is just one among billions?

The answer to the controversy—a ""yardstick"" suitable for measuring the cosmos—was discovered by Henrietta Swan Leavitt, who was employed by the Harvard Observatory as a number cruncher, at a wage not dissimilar from that of workers in the nearby textile mills. Miss Leavitt's Stars uncovers her neglected history, and brings a fascinating and turbulent period of astronomical history to life.

By: George Johnson
Imprint: Norton
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 203mm, Width: 140mm, Spine: 13mm
Weight: 164g
ISBN: 9780393328561
ISBN 10: 0393328562
Series: Great Discoveries
Publication Date: 08 January 2010
Audience: College/higher education , Primary
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Reviews for Miss Leavitt's Stars: The Untold Story of the Woman Who Discovered How to Measure the Universe

Johnson paints a luminous portrait of Leavitt and shows how her patient work sparked an explosion of astronomical creativity. -- Laurence Marschall - Discover Magazine An elegant and absorbing account of a signal event in humanity's discovery of the deeper cosmos. -- Timothy Ferris, author of The Science of Liberty The well-known science writer George Johnson fashions a fascinating picture of Miss Leavitt's life...His grace in bringing her to life is matched by his lucidity in explaining difficult scientific concepts. -- Scientific American Illuminating. -- Richard Panek - New York Times