Henrietta Leavitt Compare And Contrast Essay

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Henrietta Leavitt and Stephen Hawking are similar in a variety of different ways. Both Hawking and Leavitt have contributed a great deal to science. Stephen Hawking had discovered that radiation can escape black holes, and Leavitt had discovered the period-luminosity relationship as well as being fundamental in defining the size of the universe. According to the article on Henrietta Leavitt, “Before Leavitt established the period-luminosity relationship, astronomers could determine cosmic distances for objects up to 100 light-years away. With Leavitt’s data, astronomers estimated that the Magellanic Clouds were about 100,000 light-years from Earth.” According to the article on Stephen Hawking, “In 1974, Hawking’s research made him famous within …show more content…
The fact that Leavitt discovered her period-luminosity relationship in the early nineteen hundreds is astounding, especially given the lack of advanced technology. Hawking’s findings were monumental for the time in which he discovered them as well. While Hawking found out about black holes in 1974, it is still amazing. Despite the amount of technology, coming to the conclusion that radiation can escape black holes is very difficult. Both Leavitt and Hawking were driven at some point in their lives. Leavitt was driven from the time she was a little girl, whereas Stephen Hawking needed a more eye-opening experience to fully reach his potential. Both Hawking and Leavitt have changed the face of science. Hawking redefined the black hole, and everything that was previously thought about them shifted. Leavitt helped prove that our galaxy is just one tiny speck in an enormous universe. Each scientist has overcome challenges. Stephen Hawking had overcome ALS, and Leavitt had overcome cancer and gradual loss of

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