Henrietta Swan Leavitt
She discovered the period-luminosity relationship for Cepheid variable stars, a crucial tool for measuring cosmic distances.
Most quoted
"A straight line can readily be drawn among each of the two series of points corresponding to maxima and minima, thus showing that there is a simple relation between the brightness of the variables and their periods."
— from Harvard College Observatory Circular 173, 1912
"Since the variables are probably at nearly the same distance from the Earth, their periods are apparently associated with their actual emission of light, as determined by their mass, density, and surface brightness."
— from Harvard College Observatory Circular No. 173, 1912
"The universe is not merely a collection of stars and nebulae; it is a grand narrative, a cosmic poem written in thelight of distant suns, and we, with our telescopes, are learning to read its verses."
— from Attributed
All quotes by Henrietta Swan Leavitt (411)
If you want to understand the universe, you must first learn to count. And then, perhaps, to squint a great deal.
They say the stars hold our destiny. I say they hold a rather interesting pattern of luminosity.
My colleagues often ask if I ever get lonely, spending so much time with the stars. I assure them the stars are far more reliable conversationalists than most.
I've found that the best way to get a man to listen is to present him with irrefutable data. Even then, it's a toss-up.
The universe is a vast and wondrous place. And yet, some people still manage to find it boring.
I'm not saying I'm indispensable, but without me, they'd have to send a man to count the stars. And we all know how that would end.
One must have a certain tolerance for tedium to be an astronomer. Or, perhaps, a profound love for the infinite.
They say the sky's the limit. I say, not if you have a telescope and a good set of photographic plates.
My greatest ambition? To find a star that truly appreciates being measured.
It's a curious thing, to spend your life charting the heavens while your feet are firmly planted on the ground. Though, I suppose, someone has to.
I often wonder if the stars are looking back at us, thinking, 'What a peculiar little blue dot.'
Some days, I feel like a cosmic librarian, cataloging the universe one star at a time.
The universe doesn't care about your gender, only your observations. A refreshing change, I must say.
I've discovered that the most profound truths are often hidden in the most mundane details. Like the flicker of a distant star.
They say 'reach for the stars.' I prefer to measure them, thank you very much.
My work is a testament to the fact that even the smallest light can illuminate the greatest distances.
I've always found the universe to be a far more logical place than human society.
To truly understand something, you must first be willing to count it. And then count it again, just to be sure.
They say patience is a virtue. I say it's a necessity when dealing with celestial objects that take millennia to do anything interesting.
I'm not a dreamer; I'm a measurer. Though, I suppose, one must dream of what to measure next.
Contemporaries of Henrietta Swan Leavitt
Other Astronomys born within 50 years of Henrietta Swan Leavitt (1868–1921).