Discovery · 1925 CE
What Stars Are Made Of
History of Astronomy
Overview
Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin's doctoral thesis applied atomic physics to stellar spectra and concluded that stars are composed overwhelmingly of hydrogen and helium.
Why it matters
Overturned the assumption that the Sun has the same composition as the Earth, founding modern stellar astrophysics.
Credit
Objects & facilities
Knowledge connections
- Discovered byCecilia Payne-Gaposchkin
- Part ofModern Astronomy
- Related toThe Sun
Sources & references
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.
- BritannicaEncyclopaedia Britannica
General reference for the history of astronomy, biographies, and cultural context.