Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin

Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin was a pioneering astrophysicist who made groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of stars and galaxies. In the 1920s, she discovered the composition of stars is primarily hydrogen and helium, challenging existing beliefs about elements' abundances. Her work laid the foundation for modern stellar astrophysics. Additionally, she studied the structure of our Milky Way galaxy and contributed to solar physics, examining the Sun's atmosphere and behavior. As a prominent female scientist in a male-dominated field, she also advocated for women in science, influencing future generations of astronomers and astrophysicists.