When Henrietta Leavitt begins work at the Harvard Observatory in the
early 1900s, she isn’t allowed to touch a telescope or express an
original idea. Instead, she joins a group of women “computers,”
charting the stars for a renowned astronomer who calculates projects
in “girl hours” and has no time for the women’s probing
theories. As Henrietta, in her free time, attempts to measure the
light and distance of stars, she must also take measure of her life on
Earth, trying to balance her dedication to science with family
obligations and the possibility of love. The true story of
19th-century astronomer Henrietta Leavitt explores a woman’s place
in society during a time of immense scientific discoveries, when
women’s ideas were dismissed until men claimed credit for them.
Social progress, like scientific progress, can be hard to see when one
is trapped among earthly complications; Henrietta Leavitt and her
female peers believe in both, and their dedication changed the way we
understand both the heavens and Earth. Senior (55+) - $12.00 Adult -
$12.00 Student - $5.00
culture
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20/09/2019 Last update