Born: May 10, 1900 (Wendover, Buckinghamshire, England)
Died: December 7, 1979
Biography:
Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin (born Cecilia Helena Payne; May 10, 1900 – December 7, 1979) was a British-born American astronomer and astrophysicist who made groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of the composition of stars and the nature of variable stars. Her work challenged existing scientific wisdom and laid the foundation for modern astrophysics.
Cecilia Helena Payne was born on May 10, 1900, in Wendover, Buckinghamshire, England. She was the youngest of three children born to Emma Leonora Helena and Edward John Payne. Her father, a London barrister, historian, and musician, had been an Oxford fellow. Unfortunately, her father passed away when she was just four years old, leaving her mother to raise the family on her own.
Payne began her education at a private school in Wendover before moving to London when she was twelve. Her mother made the move to provide better educational opportunities for Cecilia’s brother, Humfry, who would later become an archaeologist. Cecilia attended St Mary’s College in Paddington before transferring to St Paul’s Girls’ School in 1918.
It was at St Paul’s Girls’ School that Payne’s interest in astronomy was sparked. Gustav Holst, the renowned composer and music teacher at the school, encouraged her to pursue a career in music. However, she was more drawn to the field of science, leading her to focus on physics and chemistry. Her passion for astronomy deepened after attending a lecture by Arthur Eddington on his 1919 expedition to observe a solar eclipse and test Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity.
In 1919, Payne won a scholarship to Newnham College, Cambridge University, where she initially studied botany, physics, and chemistry. However, she dropped botany after her first year to concentrate on her true passion, astronomy. Payne’s studies were completed, but she was not awarded a degree due to the university’s policy of not granting degrees to women at the time.
Realizing that her career options were limited in the United Kingdom, Payne set her sights on the United States. Through her connection with Harlow Shapley, the Director of the Harvard College Observatory, she was given the opportunity to move to the United States and continue her research. Payne arrived in the U.S. in 1923 and began her career at Harvard, where she could fully pursue her passion for astrophysics.
In 1925, Payne completed her doctoral thesis, Stellar Atmospheres, A Contribution to the Observational Study of High Temperature in the Reversing Layers of Stars. In her groundbreaking thesis, she proposed that stars were composed primarily of hydrogen and helium. This contradicted the prevailing scientific wisdom of the time, which held that the Sun and Earth had similar elemental compositions. Unfortunately, Payne’s groundbreaking conclusion was initially dismissed by the scientific community.
However, her work eventually gained recognition and independent observations confirmed the accuracy of her findings. This monumental discovery laid the foundation for our understanding of the composition of stars and their evolution. Today, Payne’s thesis is recognized as one of the most important contributions to astrophysics.
Payne also made significant contributions to the study of variable stars. Her research in this area provided crucial insights into the nature and behavior of these stars, further advancing our understanding of stellar evolution.
Throughout her career, Payne faced numerous obstacles and challenges. As a female scientist in a male-dominated field, she had to overcome gender biases and discrimination. However, her determination, intellect, and passion for astronomy propelled her to great heights.
Beyond her scientific accomplishments, Payne’s work has had a lasting impact on society. Her discoveries revolutionized our understanding of the universe and paved the way for future generations of astronomers and astrophysicists. Payne’s contributions also serve as a reminder of the importance of inclusivity and diversity in science.
Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin’s remarkable career and groundbreaking discoveries have made her an enduring figure in the history of astronomy and astrophysics. Her work continues to inspire and shape our understanding of the cosmos.
Awards:
– Annie Jump Cannon Award in Astronomy (1976)
– Henry Norris Russell Lectureship (1978)