Harlow Shapley was an American astronomer who determined that the Sun is not located near the center of the Milky Way galaxy, as had generally been assumed, but far out toward its edge. Working at Mount Wilson Observatory in the 1910s, Shapley mapped the three-dimensional distribution of globular star clusters around the galaxy using Cepheid variable stars as distance indicators, and found that these clusters were centered on a point in the direction of the constellation Sagittarius, far from the Sun, correctly inferring that this point marked the galaxy's true center. In 1920 Shapley took part in a public scientific exchange with astronomer Heber Curtis, later remembered as the Great Debate, over the scale of the universe and whether the spiral nebulae seen through telescopes were relatively small features within a single galaxy, as Shapley argued, or entire separate galaxies far beyond it, the position later shown to be correct by Edwin Hubble. Shapley subsequently served for many years as director of the Harvard College Observatory, where he oversaw extensive work cataloguing galaxies and expanded the observatory's program of southern-hemisphere observations.
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Birth YearSourced to the subject's own account Birth DateSourced to the subject's own account Death DateSourced to the subject's own account Death YearSourced to the subject's own account FieldSourced to the subject's own account Death PlaceSourced to the subject's own account NationalitySourced to the subject's own account Notable WorkSourced to the subject's own accountUsed Cepheid variable stars to estimate the size of the Milky Way Galaxy and the Sun's position within it. 1 BirthplaceSourced to the subject's own accounta farm outside Nashville, Missouri 1 Connections
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Source Harvard College Observatory (Wikipedia)
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WikipediaLead section, birth and death dates
Harlow Shapley (November 2, 1885, October 20, 1972) was an American astronomer, who served as head of the Harvard College Observatory from 1921-1952, and political activist during the New Deal and Fair Deal.
Lead section, birth date
Harlow Shapley (November 2, 1885, October 20, 1972) was an American astronomer, who served as head of the Harvard College Observatory from 1921-1952, and political activist during the New Deal and Fair Deal.
Background section, birthplace
Shapley was born on a farm five miles outside Nashville, Missouri, to Willis and Sarah (née Stowell) Shapley.
Lead section, nationality
Harlow Shapley (November 2, 1885, October 20, 1972) was an American astronomer, who served as head of the Harvard College Observatory from 1921-1952, and political activist during the New Deal and Fair Deal.
Lead section, field
Harlow Shapley (November 2, 1885, October 20, 1972) was an American astronomer, who served as head of the Harvard College Observatory from 1921-1952, and political activist during the New Deal and Fair Deal.
Lead section, notable work
Shapley used Cepheid variable stars to estimate the size of the Milky Way Galaxy and the Sun's position within it.
Personal life section, death, date
Shapley died in a nursing home in Boulder, Colorado on October 20, 1972, shortly before his 87th birthday.
Personal life section, death, place
Shapley died in a nursing home in Boulder, Colorado on October 20, 1972, shortly before his 87th birthday.
View the Source Harvard College Observatory (Wikipedia)
WikipediaAssociated With: Harvard College Observatory, DirectorsQuote, Associated With: Harvard College Observatory, Directors
Harlow Shapley
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