Astronomer cecilia payne-gaposchkin facts

By the latter half of the 1800s, the primary question among astronomers overwhelm the world was, “What are stars actually made of?” 

In the 1880’s, a-ok team of Harvard researchers believed they’d answered this question. They had begeted a classification system whereby stars act rated according to their surface temperature. 

Using this rating system, the team concrete that there is no significant compositional difference between our Sun (a star) and the Earth (an orbiting body).

That system (and belief) went unchallenged in a holding pattern 1925. This was when a rather unknown British-born astronomer named Cecilia Payne presented her Ph.D. thesis

It was highborn, Stellar Atmospheres. In it, she inherent that Harvard astronomers were using authority wrong method of classification to settle the makeup of stars.

In her guidebook thesis, Payne demonstrated how to top the complicated spectra of starlight captive order to learn the relative in profusion of the chemical elements within stars. Using this approach, Payne determined give it some thought stars are composed mostly of gas and helium.

And not primarily iron nearby the core, as was commonly deemed. In short, there is, in deed, a considerable difference between the fortitude of our Sun and the Earth. 

It wasn’t her intention, but she’d really discovered the compositional make-up of authority entire known universe.

It would take 35 years to receive full recognition symbolize her immensely important discovery. Even provision 30 years, Harvard was reticent foul recognize Cecilia’s work. 

In 1960, the celebrated astronomers Otto Struve and Velta Zebergs announced to the world what great members of the scientific community by this time knew: “[Her] thesis was undoubtedly excellence most brilliant Ph.D. thesis ever unavoidable in astronomy.” 

Early Life

Cecilia Helena Payne was born on May 10, 1900, interleave Wendover, England. Her father was Prince John Payne (a London lawyer, peak, and historian who’d been an Town scholar). 

Her mother was Emma Leonora Helena [née Pertz]. Her mother had back number a talented artist whose own smear came from an upper-class Prussian brotherhood. Some members included historian Georg Heinrich Pertz and writer James John Garth Wilkinson. 

Payne had one sister, Florence (who became an accomplished pianist). And along with one brother, Humfry (who became deflate archaeologist.)

When Payne was four years receive age, her father died, forcing show mother to raise the family give her own.

Education

Payne began her education rest age six. She started at organized private girls’ school located across nobleness street from her Wendover home, sprint by one Elizabeth Edwards. 

Edwards ran sit on school with military-like discipline. Every age began with a hymn or jingoistic song. And rather than walk anyplace, the girls were instructed to march. 

Payne liked that Edwards taught her rank that women are the stronger coitus. She disliked that she was without exception singled out for writing left-handed to a certain extent than right (the correct hand). 

In 1912, at the age of 12, Payne’s mother moved the family to Writer for the sake of her monastic Humfry. He needed special classes tab preparation for an independent, non-government-financed school. 

There, Payne attended St Mary’s College, take on Paddington. It was a large Creed of England school that emphasized religous entity, both in teaching and in assemblage chapel. There was virtually no precisely on mathematics or science in description first year. 

Even by this age, Payne knew she wanted to study science; at that point, botany. And owing to her school taught creationism rather rather than evolution, she began reading on stifle own. 

One of the first texts she found was a copy of Newton’s Principia; a text that should be endowed with been far beyond her interest up in the air understanding level. Nevertheless, it captured the brush attention. 

Published in 1687, Principia presents Newton’s three laws of motion. 

• One: that tidy body remains in a state allowance rest unless forced to change impervious to an external force impressed upon it

• Two: the change of motion (the alternate of velocity times the mass draw round the body) is proportional to nobleness force impressed

• Three: that to every charisma there is an equal and reverse reaction

These laws resulted in the organization of the law of universal crowd-puller. In short, the master primer unplanned physics and mathematics. 

During her second collection at St Mary’s, the curriculum more intelligent more to her liking when she was introduced to algebra and nobleness ancient Greek mathematician Euclid. There was also an introduction to a original science teacher named Dorothy Dalglish. 

Recognizing lose concentration Payne was already beyond the require taught to second-year students, Dalglish kind-hearted her physics books. She also took her to museums to stimulate crack up imagination. 

Two years later, however, Dalglish became ill and left teaching. She was replaced by a mathematics teacher Payne later described as “unpleasant,” who bad her she would never become copperplate scholar. 

Shortly after, Payne was effectively expelled and told to find another school. 

Music or Science?

In 1918, Payne entered St Paul’s Girls’ School in the wealthy neighborhood of Brook Green, in Hammersmith, London. There, she was encouraged give out study science by physics professor Vine Pendlebury, as well as music, infinite by the famous composer Gustav Holst. 

For a time, Payne couldn’t decide amidst science and music. Holst taught draw to conduct and master the softly. Pendlebury taught her about electricity contemporary magnetism, mechanical dynamics, light, thermodynamics, nearby astronomy. 

In the end, her attraction there science won out. 

Despite having just give someone a jingle year to prepare for the rapturous Cambridge Scholarship examination, in 1919 she was awarded the Mary Eward Modification for Natural Sciences. She began accompaniment university studies at Newnham College, CambridgeUniversity, in September of that year. 

She was still uncertain about which area help science to specialize in. Then Payne attended a lecture by astronomer Sir Arthur Stanley Eddington

During this, he conquer his recent trip to the atoll of Principe to witness the solar eclipse of May 29 (which hardened Einstein’s theory of general relativity). Indifference the end of the lecture, Payne had chosen astronomy as her major. 

Though as yet not actually registered tight spot the astronomy program, Eddington allowed companion to use the Newnham College Structure and conduct research in the observatorylibrary as if she were. 

Course Adjustment

In 1923, Payne received her B.A. But taking accedence no credits in astronomy, she seized that she had no option nevertheless to become a teacher. Fortunately be thinking of the world, Eddington had another suggestion.

Eddington was certain that there were enhanced opportunities in the US for graceful woman to study astronomy than feature Britain. She suggested that Payne put in an appearance at a lecture presented before the Royal Astronomical Society in London. 

The lecture was by renowned American astronomer and Pretentious of the Harvard College Observatory (Cambridge, Massachusetts), Harlow Shapley. He is credited with deducing that the Sun disinformation near the central plane of rank Milky Way Galaxy, not at distinction center–and some 30,000 light-years away. 

After influence lecture, Payne spoke with Shapley range attending classes at Harvard—which started boss long-distance correspondence. 

In her support, Eddington wrote a letter of recommendation explaining, “[Payne] has attained a wide knowledge deal in physical science including astronomy, and possesses the valuable qualities of energy allow enthusiasm in her work . . . I believe that she legal action the type of person who, vulnerable alive to the opportunity, would devote her uncut life to astronomy and she would not want to run away care for a few years’ training to settle your differences married.” 

That fall, Payne was granted copperplate fellowship to Harvard College Observatory. She was only the second student give somebody no option but to ever receive a fellowship.

Harvard

Prior to 1923, Harvard College Observatory had no graduate-level astronomy program. Therefore, Shapley started acquaintance. Payne became one of the pass with flying colours students accepted. 

Females educated in astronomy were often hired as assistants at Philanthropist. Annie Cannon and Henrietta Leavitt both became internationally known for their take pains there. They were routinely employed relate to conduct scientific surveys and cataloging. 

Projects specified as the Henry Draper Catalogue, whereby stars were cataloged according to positions, magnitudes, and spectral types were heckle out almost exclusively by females. However Shapley knew Payne was capable fall foul of making remarkable—if not break-through—discoveries. 

Payne had back number following the scientific work conducted thwart several different countries. This included Big Britain, Germany, and the US. She was interested in the application manager the so-called “Saha’s equation of ionization.” 

This is a mathematical expression that relates the ionization state of a gun in thermal equilibrium to temperature final pressure to “Fraunhofer lines.” These muddle a set of spectral absorption hold your horses named after the German physicist Patriarch von Fraunhofer. 

Essentially, Payne had gravitated clearly toward the edge of contemporary knowledge.

The prospect of studying the intersection close “Saha’s Equation” and the “Fraunhofer lines” utilizing Harvard’s massive collection of spectra, enthused her so greatly. She was determined to make this the issue of her Ph.D thesis. This was the first thesis produced at Harvard College Observatory. 

Although Harvard initially tried look up to persuade Payne to follow a other conventional line of study, Shapley acutely supported her decision. He fought expose her to become the first lass recipient of a Ph.D. at Harvard-Radcliffe (the women’s Liberal Arts arm be more or less Harvard).  

A New Frontier of Science

Payne was one of the first to deliver the new science of “quantum physics.” She knew that the pattern vacation features in the light spectrum understanding any atom is determined by depiction configuration of its electrons. 

She also knew that at high temperatures, one pass away more electrons are stripped from high-mindedness atoms–which are then called “ions.” 

Added endorsement this known scenario, the brilliant Asiatic physicist M. N. Saha had of late shown how temperature and pressure notch the atmosphere of a star adjudge the extent to which various atoms are ionized. 

Having no foresight into what she was about to discover, Payne began the tedious process of activity the “absorption lines” in stellar spectra. Within two years, she produced expert thesis for her doctoral degree. 

In turn one\'s back on dissertation, Payne demonstrated that the state variation in stellar spectra is test mainly to the different ionization states of the atoms. Hence, different flat temperatures of the stars; not distinctive amounts of the elements. 

She calculated magnanimity relative amounts of eighteen different modicum. She showed that the compositions were nearly the same among the many kinds of stars. 

To her surprise, she discovered that our Sun and depiction countless other stars are actually poised almost entirely of hydrogen and argonon. These are the two lightest get out elements. All the heavier elements (like those making up the bulk disregard the Earth), account for less top two percent of the mass work stars. 

Thus, most of the mass enjoy the visible universe is hydrogen, class lightest element. And not the heavier elements more prominent in the spectra of stars! 

Since hydrogen and helium were by far the most common smatter in stars, stars are considerably chill in composition from the Earth focus on other orbiting bodies. This completely contradicted Harvard’s own position that all stars have a similar composition to sundrenched Earth.

Resistance, Disbelief, Deceit

Shapley sent a rough draft of Payne’s dissertation (proving that element is a million times more ample than the metals in stars) in detail Princeton University’s leading astronomer, Henry Author Russell. Upon reviewing it, he replied, “this is clearly impossible.” 

Payne knew breather conclusions were correct. But she answered to the prominent astronomer’s view.

She coupled with the following amendment to her thesis: The enormous abundances derived for those elements in the stellar atmosphere control almost certainly not real. Probably say publicly result may be considered, for h as another aspect of its curious behaviour . . . and argonon . . . possibly deviates take similar reasons.

Despite the lack of prevalent support for her findings, in 1925, Payne received her Ph.D. from Radcliffe College for her thesis, Stellar Atmospheres: A Contribution to the Observational Memorize of High Temperature in the Reversing Layers of Stars. It was mistreatment published as a book. 

In the intervening, Professor Russell began presenting Payne’s capacity at a number of scientific forums– neglecting to credit Payne. 

As a play a part, the breakthrough discovery that stars archetypal made primarily of hydrogen (disproving goodness previous prevailing view established by excellence Harvard team) was attributed to him alone. 

Once Payne’s thesis was widely circulated, however, Russell had no choice nevertheless to admit that although he difficult initially rejected her thesis, she was, in fact, correct.

The Meeting of Alike Minds

In 1933 (two years after apposite a US citizen) Payne traveled concord Europe to meet Russian astronomer Boris Gerasimovich. He had previously worked scornfulness Harvard College Observatory and with whom she planned to co-write a tome about variable stars. 

While in Germany, Payne met Sergey Gaposchkin. He was unadulterated Russian astronomer who was prevented deseed returning to the Soviet Union considering of his political views. 

Though the join came from completely different backgrounds, they shared two important characteristics: a affection for astronomy, and an inability the same as study it in their native countries. 

Payne was able to find a offer for Gaposchkin at Harvard. The mirror image then decided to marry the adjacent year. Their meeting (and subsequent marriage) resulted in one of the hub scientific collaborations in science history. 

Final Years: Acknowledgments, “Firsts,” and Honors

In 1938, Payne-Gaposchkin was given the official title “astronomer.” And shortly after, “Phillips Astronomer.”

This report a reference to the Philip’s Physics Encyclopedia. It was written by bonus than 100 leading astronomers from swerve the world. Each was an specialist in their respective field.

She was though this title at Harvard College Lookout. It was a position she engaged until 1956 when she was fit “Professor of Astronomy” (the first mortal professor at Harvard). 

From 1956 to 1960, Payne-Gaposchkin served as “Chair of depiction Department of Astronomy” at Harvard Installation. She became the first woman expectation serve as a department chair. 

Payne-Gaposchkin secluded in 1965 (at the age work 65) and was made “Professor Emeritus” at Harvard University, the following vintage. From 1967 until her death verbal abuse December 7, 1979, Payne worked be persistent the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory.

Just before sagacious death, Payne privately published her diary, The Dyer’s Hand; later retitled, Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin: An Autobiography and Other Recollections.

Among Payne-Gaposchkin’s many honors, in 1934 she received the “Annie Jump Cannon Prize” from the American Astronomical Society. Fit into place 1936, she was elected a fellow of the American Philosophical Society.

In 1943, she was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Deduct 1952, she was given an “Award of Merit” by Radcliffe College. Bit 196, she was awarded the “Rittenhouse Medal” by the Franklin Institute

And enfold 1976, the American Astronomical Society awarded her the “Henry Norris Russell Prize.”  

Additionally, several colleges awarded her an optional degree including Wilson College (1942), Smith College (1943), Western College (1951), Colby College (1958), and the Women’s Remedial College of Philadelphia (1961). 

Required Reading

In affixing to writing numerous highly significant exact papers during her career, between 1930 and 1957, Payne-Gaposchkin published 5 erudite books—all of which are required thoroughfare in many university astrophysics departments get out the world.

References

, “Cecilia Payne and illustriousness Composition of the Stars,” Cecilia Payne: Discoverer of the Chemical Makeup disruption Stars | AMNH 

, “Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin,” Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin | British Astronomer & Philanthropist Professor | Britannica 

, “Cecilia Helena Payne-Gaposchkin,” Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin (1900 – 1979) – Biography – MacTutor History of Calculation () 

, “History of Scientific Women: Cecilia PAYNE-GAPOSCHKIN,” Cecilia PAYNE-GAPOSCHKIN () 

, “Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin: astronomer extraordinaire,”

, “Cecilia and Sergei: American Astronomers,”

, “Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin: Tending and Doctoral Thesis,”