Unsung Hero

30 Cents to Measure the Universe

Fionna Moran

Sophomore, 10th grade

Henrietta Swan Leavitt. An unfamiliar name who has made unforgettable contributions in the world of astronomy. Leavitt was an astronomer at Harvard Observatory in the 19th Century who discovered how to measure the universe using the pulsisty and brightness of cepheid stars. She first started at the observatory as a volunteer for 14 years before getting a paid job as an astronomer, earning 30 cents an hour, around half what men were paid. Going into a male-dominated field as a woman can be stressful, especially since women are less likely to be taken seriously or acknowledged. For Leavitt, it was an even more intimidating experience. Women in the observatory weren’t allowed to use telescopes and had to make their observations through photographic plates. Although this was challenging because they weren’t live observations they could see first hand, Leavitt never complained. Her passion for astronomy helped her focus on her work and discover vital information. The information and observations she produced while at Harvard Observatory made it possible for other astronomers to develop their ideas and eventually create the infamous Hubble telescope. All in all, Henrietta Swan Leavitt is an inspiring woman who deserves more recognition for her contributions to the future of astronomy.

In the women’s workroom at Harvard Observatory, many observations and ideas were born, including Leavitt’s. My painting shows how, although they were very limited to their room, their ideas went much further than that. They uncovered ideas that no one had thought of and made a huge impact on the future. Therefore, Henrietta Swan Leavitt is clearly an unsung hero. She spent years making her observations. She was a hard worker, had a strong passion for astronomy, and even was deaf. Neither being a woman nor being deaf stopped her. The dark sky behind her shows that she really did reach for the stars and do what she loved.

Before even thinking about my painting, I researched and thought about the best way to capture Henrietta Swan Leavitt in one painting and to encapsulate the information she gave to future generations. I really wanted her to be a main focal point in the piece to show the importance of who she was. To ensure the message got across, I decided to do a yellow glow around her, symbolizing a shining light on her. I also decided to make the bottom portion of the background into the women’s workroom at Harvard Observatory and the rest into the sky and galaxy. The gradient between the background shows how confined these women were in their room, not being able to use telescopes and being forced to use plates instead, but how that didn’t stop them from reaching big and discovering such important things.

I definitely felt very inspired while making this piece. Not only did I learn about more women in astronomy and the importance of their discoveries, I also learned to not be discouraged from working in a mainly male dominated field.

I think it is important for people to acknowledge and appreciate not only Leavitt’s discoveries, but other women in male dominated fields whose work has either been credited to someone else or just generally not appreciated. I hope that my piece really does shine light on Henrietta Swan Leavitt and encourages more people to look into her work and that of others.