Harlow Shapley

American astronomer (1885-1972)

Harlow Shapleywas 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.

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Family Info

Siblings

John Shapley

Spouses

Martha Betz Shapley

Children

Mildred Shapley Matthews

Willis H. Shapley

Alan Horace Shapley

Lloyd Shapley

Carl Betz Shapley

About the Harlow Shapley

Harlow Shapleywas 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. In 1953 he proposed his “liquid water belt” theory, now known as the concept of a habitable zone.