Our Collection
"Who Are They"
Henrietta Swan Leavitt
Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin
Henrietta Swan Leavitt
“The woman who discovered how to measure the Universe’
Henrietta Swan Leavitt was an American astronomer, but in her time was referred to as a human "computer" at Harvard College Observatory. She discovered a correlation between period and luminosity in stars called variable stars. More elaborately, these correlations proved that the perio
“The woman who discovered how to measure the Universe’
Henrietta Swan Leavitt was an American astronomer, but in her time was referred to as a human "computer" at Harvard College Observatory. She discovered a correlation between period and luminosity in stars called variable stars. More elaborately, these correlations proved that the period measurements gave information on the intrinsic brightness of the variable star. And comparing that to the apparent brightness led to accurate measurements light years away. Most prominently, Leavitt's Law has contributed to discovering our place in the galaxy and discovered the universe itself!
- For more information: https://www.aavso.org/henrietta-leavitt-%E2%80%93-celebrating-forgotten-astronomer
Katherine Johnson
Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin
Henrietta Swan Leavitt
Creola Katherine Johnson was an American mathematician who went on to work for NASA during a pivotal time in space exploration. Her calculations of orbital mechanics were imperative to the first and subsequent U.S. crewed spaceflights. Later helping men land on the moon and return to earth safely!
- For more information: https://www.nasa.gov/people-of-nasa/katherine-johnson-biography/
Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin
Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin
Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin
Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin was a British-born American astronomer. As an astronomer and astrophysicist she made the revolutionary discovery that stars are mostly composed of hydrogen and helium! Cecilia was pioneering in both her professional and personal life. In her day it was expected that she give up her career once having a family, whi
Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin was a British-born American astronomer. As an astronomer and astrophysicist she made the revolutionary discovery that stars are mostly composed of hydrogen and helium! Cecilia was pioneering in both her professional and personal life. In her day it was expected that she give up her career once having a family, which she refused to do.
- For more information: https://www.amnh.org/learn-teach/curriculum-collections/cosmic-horizons-book/cecilia-payne-profile
Our Founder
Jessica Soto is a science communicator that has worked in STEM education for over a decade. Working with astronomers and science educators, she has often heard that some of the most pivotal women in science are not well represented. Working at Mount Wilson Observatory since March 2016, she felt an even greater inspiration learning about Henrietta Swan-Leavitt and her contributions to the discovery of the universe itself! Science-Women Shirts is an effort to spread the knowledge of women like Henrietta that have been forgotten, yet have accomplished something incredible.