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

George Johnson brings to life Henrietta Swan Leavitt, who found the key to the vastness of the universe-in the form of a "yardstick" suitable for measuring it. Unknown in our day, Leavitt was no more recognized in her own: despite her enormous achievement, she was employed by the Harvard Observatory as a mere number-cruncher, at a wage not dissimilar from that of workers in the nearby textile mills. Miss Leavitt's Stars uncovers her neglected history.

About the author

George Johnson, geb. 1952, ist einer der bekanntesten amerikanischen Wissenschaftsjournalisten und schreibt regelmäßig für die "New York Times", den "Scientific American", "Atlantic Monthly" und das "Time Magazine". Für seine Artikel und Bücher hat er zahlreiche Preise erhalten.

Summary

"A short, excellent account of [Leavitt’s] extraordinary life and achievements." —Simon Singh, New York Times Book Review

Product details

• Authors: George Johnson
• Publisher: Norton
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 03.05.2016
• EAN: 9780393328561
• ISBN: 978-0-393-32856-1
• No. of pages: 176
• Dimensions: 135 mm x 200 mm x 6 mm
• Weight: 155 g
• Series: Great Discoveries; Great Discoveries (Paperback); Great Discoveries; Great Discoveries (Paperback)
• Subject: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Physics, astronomy > Astronomy