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; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 162 pages; Description: xiv, 162 p. : ill. ; 21 cm. Includes bibliographical references (p. 149-150) and index. Subjects: Leavitt, Henrietta Swan, 1868-1921. Harvard College Observatory --History. Astrometry --History. Women astronomers --United States --Biography. Astronomical photometry. Astronomy --United States --History --20th century. Series: Great discoveries
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Reseña del editor:
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. Miss Leavitt's Stars is both a masterly account of how we measure the universe and the moving story of a neglected genius
Biografía del autor:
George Johnson, an award-winning science journalist, is the author of several books, most recently The Cancer Chronicles and Strange Beauty. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
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- EditorialWW Norton & Co
- Año de publicación2005
- ISBN 10 0393051285
- ISBN 13 9780393051285
- EncuadernaciónTapa dura
- Número de páginas256
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Valoración
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3,57
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