Her Theory.

Her popularization.

Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin revolutionized astronomy by demonstrating that stars are primarily composed of hydrogen and helium.

Before her discovery, scientists thought that the composition of stars was similar to that of Earth, which significantly limited the understanding of the structure and evolution of the universe.

Scientific illustration

To reach this conclusion, Payne-Gaposchkin used spectroscopic analysis. This method involves studying the light emitted by stars and identifying the chemical elements present through spectral lines.

It was through this technique that she was able to measure the proportions of hydrogen and helium and reveal the true nature of celestial bodies.

The impact of this discovery on modern science is immense. Today, her work serves as a foundation for astrophysics and continues to influence research on stars and galaxy composition.

Diagram.

Composition Diagram