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Harlow Shapley

Milky Way

How Long Does it Take for One Galactic Year to Pass?

A galaxy is a system of stars, stellar remnants, interstellar gas, dust, and dark matter that is gravitationally bound. The phrase comes from the Greek word galaxias, which means milky’ and refers to the Milky Way galaxy, which houses the Solar System. Galaxies range in size from dwarfs to giants, each orbiting their galaxy’s center […]

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Astronomer Harlow Shapley firmly believed that there was only one galaxy in the universe but when he was presented with an evidence that disproved his view, he said “it destroyed his universe.” Then he completely changed his view and devoted his subsequent career in mapping 76,000 galaxies.

Harlow Shapley Harlow Shapley (November 2, 1885 – October 20, 1972) was an American scientist, head of the Harvard College Observatory (1921–1952), and political activist during the latter New Deal and Fair Deal. Shapley used Cepheid variable stars to estimate the size of the Milky Way Galaxy and the Sun’s position within it by using

Astronomer Harlow Shapley firmly believed that there was only one galaxy in the universe but when he was presented with an evidence that disproved his view, he said “it destroyed his universe.” Then he completely changed his view and devoted his subsequent career in mapping 76,000 galaxies. Read More »