she was able to deduce a ground-breaking theory, which allowed Hubble's later insight about the age &expansion of the universe. Her period-luminosity relation for Cepheid variable stars radically changed modern astronomy, an accomplishment for which she received little recognition during her π§΅2:
β
lifetime. Cepheid variables are a class of pulsating star, named for Delta Cephei in the Cepheus constellation. The relationship between a Cepheid variable's luminosity and pulsation period is quite precise. It had not been obvious to tell whether a star was dim because it was less luminous, π§΅3/
or whether it was merely further away. Swan Leavitt's discovery lets astronomers use Cepheids as "standard candles". They allow astronomers to determine distances to celestial objects and form the foundation of the Extragalactic Distance Scale.β
minouette.etsy.com/listing/4518...
Leavittβs death interrupted her nomination for the Nobel. She did all this with recurring severe chronic illness and progressive deafness and was an extraordinary #DisabledInSTEM astronomer to celebrate this Disability Pride Month.
