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Whose work discovered that the Sun is made mostly of hydrogen and helium?
Quick Answer
Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin made the groundbreaking argument in 1925. She showed that hydrogen and helium dominate the Sun and stars.
The Full Story
Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, working at Harvard, used stellar spectra to determine the chemical composition of stars. In her 1925 doctoral thesis she concluded that hydrogen and helium are by far the most abundant elements in the Sun. This was a revolutionary result because many astronomers expected compositions more like Earth’s. Her work is now recognized as one of the most important in stellar astrophysics.
Key Facts
1.Her thesis was completed in 1925
2.She showed the Sun is mostly hydrogen and helium
3.The conclusion transformed stellar chemistry
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Suggested video title for this topic:
"The scientist who found out what stars are made of"
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