George Johnson brings to life Henrietta Swan Leavitt, who found the key to the vastness of the universe-in the form of a "yardstick" suitable for measuring it. Unknown in our day, Leavitt was no more recognized in her own: despite her enormous achievement, she was employed by the Harvard Observatory as a mere number-cruncher, at a wage not dissimilar from that of workers in the nearby textile mills. Miss Leavitt's Stars uncovers her neglected history.

About the Author
George Johnson, an award-winning science journalist, is the author of several books, most recently The Cancer Chronicles and Strange Beauty. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Reviews
"Illuminating." -- Richard Panek - New York Times
"The well-known science writer George Johnson fashions a fascinating picture of Miss Leavitt's life...His grace in bringing her to life is matched by his lucidity in explaining difficult scientific concepts." -- Scientific American
"An elegant and absorbing account of a signal event in humanity's discovery of the deeper cosmos." -- Timothy Ferris, author of The Science of Liberty
"Johnson paints a luminous portrait of Leavitt and shows how her patient work sparked an explosion of astronomical creativity." -- Laurence Marschall - Discover Magazine



Book Information
ISBN 9780393328561
Author George Johnson
Format Paperback
Page Count 176
Imprint WW Norton & Co
Publisher WW Norton & Co
Weight(grams) 164g
Dimensions(mm) 203mm * 140mm * 13mm