Astronomer and astrophysicist Cecilia Payne was the first person to discover what burns at the heart of stars. But she didn't start out as the groundbreaking scientist she would eventually become. She started out as a girl full of curiosity, hoping one day to unlock the mysteries of the universe. That dream took her to the Harvard College Observatory, where she met like-minded women and had the chance to pursue her research. And although her conclusion that stars were composed mainly of hydrogen was originally considered impossible, today it's hailed as one of the most important discoveries in astronomy.
With lyrical, evocative text by Kirsten W. Larson and extraordinary illustrations by award-winning illustrator Katherine Roy, this moving biography powerfully parallels the kindling of Cecilia Payne's own curiosity and her scientific career with the process of a star's birth, from mere possibility in an expanse of space to an eventual, breathtaking explosion of light.
"Along with adding more detail about both the stellar career of Cecilia Payne, 25 years old when she made her revolutionary discovery in 1925, and about star formation in an afterword, Larson makes explicit her message to readers who burn to find out and to understand. 'Cecilia proved not only what makes a star but also what makes a star scientist: curiosity, passion, hard work, and belief in oneself'.... A luminous thematic pairing." — Kirkus Reviews
Recommended Age | 5 - 9 |
---|---|
Author | Kirsten W. Larson |
Illustrator | Katherine Roy |
ISBN | 1452172870 |
Publication Date | Feb 7, 2023 |
Publisher | Chronicle Books |
Language | English |