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Explored by Henrietta Swan Leavitt
Explored by Henrietta Swan Leavitt
Henrietta Leavitt started her work with Harvard’s Glass Plate astronomical photographs in the late 1800s, investigating stars that pulse or change in brightness over time – so-called variable stars. At that time, astronomers were “in the dark” when it came to understanding the size and scale of the universe or how far away stars, nebulae, and galaxies were. It was impossible to tell whether one star was dimmer than another because it was further away, or just because it was actually dim. Leavitt’s discovery that certain types of stars “gave away” their brightness by how fast they pulse, had a huge impact on astronomy. Her discovery enabled astronomers to determine the size of the Milky Way, to realize that the universe was far larger than anyone had imagined, and was foundational to Edwin Hubble’s measurements of the expanding universe.
Henrietta Leavitt started her work with Harvard’s Glass Plate astronomical photographs in the late 1800s, investigating stars that pulse or change in brightness over time – so-called variable stars. At that time, astronomers were “in the dark” when it came to understanding the size and scale of the universe or how far away stars, nebulae, and galaxies were. It was impossible to tell whether one star was dimmer than another because it was further away, or just because it was actually dim. Leavitt’s discovery that certain types of stars “gave away” their brightness by how fast they pulse, had a huge impact on astronomy. Her discovery enabled astronomers to determine the size of the Milky Way, to realize that the universe was far larger than anyone had imagined, and was foundational to Edwin Hubble’s measurements of the expanding universe.
Follow in her footsteps and take your OWN image of Variable Stars!
Follow in her footsteps and take your OWN image of Variable Stars!
When you get your image back, use the 'Invert' filter in the 'Tool' dropdown in JS9-4L. Then use the star chart at right to identify Delta Cephei, and estimate its brightness compared to the stars around it.
Above: Variable Star Delta Cephei; Below: "Fly spanker" used by Leavitt to measure stellar brightnesses.
Interested in the woman behind this science? Learn more about Henrietta Swan Leavitt!
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