Women in Astronomy–Henrietta Leavitt

Hamilton-Gibson Productions, Commonwealth University-Mansfield, and the Pennsylvania Wilds Astronomy Club will co-sponsor “Women in Astronomy—Henrietta Leavitt”, on April 26, at Strait Planetarium.  This free program will begin at 6:30 PM, and pre-registration is required.

Hamilton-Gibson is presenting “Silent Sky” in May.  This play is about Henrietta Leavitt and her fellow woman astronomical “computers” at Harvard Observatory in the early 1900’s.  Discoveries by Leavitt included how the brightness variability of some stars could be used to measure their relative distance to earth.  This was key to future work on mapping the universe.  Some scientists, including Edwin Hubble, said that Leavitt deserved the Nobel Prize for her work.

The program will include a lecture on Leavitt’s contributions to science, a few scenes and readings from the play by the actors, a planetarium show, and telescope observing in the parking lot afterward if the skies are clear.  Space-themed snacks will be provided.

Pre-registration will be available starting March 1.  To register, use the link below.