This week we take an in-depth look at the work done at the Harvard College Observatory on cataloging and classifying variable stars under the direction of Charles Edward Pickering. We examine the contributions of Williamina Fleming, Annie Jump Cannon and Henrietta Swan Leavitt that resulted in the the period-luminosity relationship, also known as Leavitt's Law.
Henrietta Swan Leavitt (Image Credit: Wikipedia Commons)
Light Curve for a typical Type IV variable star (Image Source: Hyperphysics Concepts)
Apparent Magnitude-Period Graph for 25 Type IV Variable Stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud. The paper line is maximum brightness while the lower line is minimum brightness (Image Source: Wikipedia Commons)
Neat discussion on the history of astronomy. Well some aspects of it. I love the notion of "a value in education and learning" and this idea being extended to women. If only many more people thought this way.
And I agree. Name it Leavitt's Law.
Posted by: roland watts | 01/17/2019 at 08:36 PM