Henrietta Swan Leavitt

Henrietta Swan Leavitt was an American astronomer who made significant contributions to our understanding of the universe in the early 20th century. She discovered the relationship between the brightness and pulsation periods of certain stars called Cepheid variables. This key insight allowed astronomers to use these stars as "cosmic yardsticks" to measure distances in space. Her work laid the groundwork for later discoveries, including estimating the size of the Milky Way and confirming that the universe is expanding. Leavitt's findings profoundly influenced the field of astronomy and helped shape our understanding of the cosmos.