Astrophysics: A Woman Made It Possible T-Shirt

Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin was a pioneering astrophysicist who made a major contribution to our understanding of the universe. Born in England in 1900, she went on to study at Cambridge University, where she became the first person to earn a PhD in astronomy. She later joined the faculty at Harvard College Observatory, where she spent the majority of her career. One of Payne-Gaposchkin's most significant contributions to science was her discovery that stars were mostly composed of hydrogen and helium, a finding that challenged prevailing scientific opinion at the time. This discovery was considered revolutionary and paved the way for a deeper understanding of the chemical composition of stars and the universe as a whole, giving birth to Astrophysics as a discipline. Payne-Gaposchkin's work was recognized with numerous awards and honors, including the Henry Norris Russell Lectureship, the highest award in astronomy. She was also the first woman to be awarded a full professorship at Harvar