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The Glass Universe: How Harvard Women Measured The Stars

The women of the Harvard Observatory take measurements and calculations of stars printed on glass slides. Photo: Harvard Observatory / Wikimedia Commons
The women of the Harvard Observatory take measurements and calculations of stars printed on glass slides. Photo: Harvard Observatory / Wikimedia Commons

'The Glass Universe' explores how the women of Harvard Observatory in 1890 broke through the gender barrier and revolutionized the way astronomers observe the night sky.

Dava Sobel is a former New York Times science reporter and longtime contributor to The New Yorker. Her latest book, the Glass Universe, looks at the women at Harvard Observatory and how they were breaking ground not only because of their gender, but because of the scientific observations they were making in the field of astronomy.

Brendan Byrne is Central Florida Public Media's Assistant News Director, managing the day-to-day operations of the newsroom, editing daily news stories, and managing the organization's internship program. Byrne also hosts Central Florida Public Media's weekly radio show and podcast "Are We There Yet?" which explores human space exploration, and the weekly news roundup podcast "The Wrap."