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Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin: An Autobiography and Other Recollections Second Edition
Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin is acclaimed as the greatest woman astronomer of all time. In this book, her own story of her professional life, work, and scientific achievements is augmented by the personal recollections of her daughter, Katherine Haramundanis. Other highlights include a scientific appreciation by Jesse Greenstein, a historical essay by Peggy Kidwell and, new to this edition, an introduction by Virginia Trimble. Payne-Gaposchkin's overwhelming love for astronomy was her personal guiding light, and her attitude and approach have lessons for all. She received many prestigious awards for her outstanding contributions to science. In 1956, she became the first woman Professor at Harvard University, as well as being the first woman departmental chair. This book will interest both astronomers and those studying the advancement of the position and status of women in society.
300 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1984
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 17, 2012
Why don't you know this woman's name? This remarkable British/American woman, who died in 1979, was one of the foremost physicists of the Twentieth century, the first to recognize the chemical make-up of the sun, a discovery that instantly put many of the then-accepted notions of the universe itself into question. The eminent physicists she worked with at the Harvard Observatory--all men, needless to say--pooh-poohed her conclusions, and when her discoveries did come to prominence, it was her boss who got most of the credit. It's only in the last couple of decades that her name has become linked, in academia at least, with the praise it deserves. The rest of us dolts don't know who the heck she was. But this slender book can begin to correct that with its helpful forward by her daughter, which gives more background about her mother's life. Payne was a Renaissance woman, an independent spirit, a keen wit--and a fine writer. Her memoir is full of deep pleasures.
March 17, 2017
Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin was one of the foremost astronomers of the twentieth century. Among other things, she made remarkable contributions to our understanding of the composition of stars and the behavior of gases in stars. She is also a gifted and engaging writer, and I highly recommend her autobiography.
March 31, 2009
Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin is the first human ever to realize that the universe was largely made up of hydrogen, a result that was contained in "the most brilliant PhD thesis ever written in astronomy." Oh, and she happened to be a woman which made it difficult for her to obtain the kind of positions that her less talented male colleagues did. This is a fascinating book about one of the most important astronomers of the 20th century.
July 26, 2008
This was a very interesting book, particularly after reading the Maria Mitchell biography with its commentary on the evolution of the whole "women in science" question. I decided to skip the introductions, however, as I was finding them to be rather (unintentionally) sexist at times. I'd much rather hear from Cecilia herself.
January 7, 2015
Very good book. I like the way she writes a lot.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews