Harlow Shapley

Found our galaxy's center is far from the Sun (1918)
Director, Harvard College Observatory (1921-1952)
Promoted exoplanet “habitable zones” (1953-1969)

[Mount Wilson Observatory @MtWilsonObs]

We are relieved to report that the flare-up of the Eaton Fire near the Observatory seems to be under control for now. We are grateful to firefighters & mountain staff for their dedication to keeping the mountain safe. We will monitor the situation as things can change quickly.

[Harlow Shapley @HarlowShapley]

@womenshistmonth honors Fern Rusk Shapley, sister-in-law of #Harlowshapley. Fern worked with #Berenson at Villa I Tatti. From 1943-late 1970s at @ngadc she catalogued Italian paintings and the #SamuelKress Collection. See more at https://t.co/Rbt6uw3fn5.

[Harlow Shapley @HarlowShapley]

As Cold War raged in 1948 #HarlowShapley as President of #AAAS said “We have a clear responsibility to lead the way to an era of peace and human progress.” = “The prime function” of AAAS must be overcoming barriers. Breaking down "walls" to good science were #2024AAAS theme.

[Harlow Shapley @HarlowShapley]

In 1953 #HarlowShapley proposed the ‘liquid water belt’ test for exoplanets that can harbor life, Deborah Shapley shows in a post “Shapley’s Legacies” at https://t.co/yYe8jYeygt. Now @universetoday listed 14 exoplanets that are “potential water-worlds” for @NASAWebb to target.

[Mark Cousins @markcousinsfilm]

Sinead O'Connor was our Irish wild side.
Such a big part of our imagined lives.
#sinead

[Harlow Shapley @HarlowShapley]

Three quarters of major observatories are affected by light pollution, says @RoyalAstroSoc report by Fabio Falchi. The Milky Way cannot be seen from most cities. See NPS map of US light pollution 1950s - 2025. We can't see the glorious Milky Way as they can in Chile. (NatGeog)

[Harlow Shapley @HarlowShapley]

Three quarters of major observatories are affected by light pollution, says @RoyalAstroSoc report by Fabio Falchi. The Milky Way cannot be seen from most cities. See NPS map of US light pollution 1950s - 2025. We can't see the glorious Milky Way as they can in Chile. (NatGeog)

[Harlow Shapley @HarlowShapley]

@debthink Deborah Shapley looks forward to @AAASmeetings Friday-Sunday. Contact me at @debthink Hope you'll check out my latest posts at https://t.co/tAi9d36YEZ

[Harlow Shapley @HarlowShapley]

#HarlowShapley built Building D in the Depression to secure the future of the #harvardplatestacks. In 1931-32 he raised funds and built new quarters for #harvardcollegeobservatory's "most valuable asset" of "astrophotographic plates. @_GlassStars_

[Harlow Shapley @HarlowShapley]

@CarlowCollege Great to learn of Carlow lecture & promote it! Could Dr. McGrath mention Shapley's influential book Of Stars and Men? Pub'd 1958 & repub 6 other languages incl Hindi. On YouTube see Hubley film of it and hear my grandfather's lovely words on your theme. Glad to help if we can.

[Harlow Shapley @HarlowShapley]

@alexwitze Hi Alexandra! This is deborah shapley @debthink posting. I am so glad you noticed this post. I will find your email to be in touch directly. HS was my grandfather & I have lots of great info.

[Harlow Shapley @HarlowShapley]

https://t.co/5q8iK5H0Dw

[Harlow Shapley @HarlowShapley]

@radboudscience @mmosc_m @RUastro @Radboud_Uni @NWO_Science Congratulations! You are in a long line of women who have changed our understanding of the universe.

https://t.co/HzeJQu0Daw

[Harlow Shapley @HarlowShapley]

(revised text)

#Astronomy, #Apples, and land #conservation. That's the legacy of @HarlowShapley and his family on Shapley Land, a nine-acre tract adjoining the Oak Ridge Observatory. Carlson Orchards farms the land and produces Shapley's Gala hard cider.

https://t.co/WzKFDhnlQg

[Harlow Shapley @HarlowShapley]

For many decades, the Oak Ridge Observatory featured the 61” Wyeth #telescope, the largest west of Texas, and one inch larger than the one @HarlowShapley used at @MtWilsonObs. Harvard University (@CenterForAstro) closed the #observatory in 2005, although it uses it periodically.

[Harlow Shapley @HarlowShapley]

(revised text)

@HarlowShapley and his family practiced land #conservation for decades at a nine-acre plot next to the Oak Ridge Observatory, created by Shapley in 1933, just outside of Boston. The plot's apples are used to make Shapley's Gala Hard Cider.

https://t.co/4bLMmBvuGd

[Elon Musk @elonmusk]

A new philosophy of the future is needed. I believe it should be curiosity about the Universe – expand humanity to become a multiplanet, then interstellar, species to see what’s out there.

[Harlow Shapley @HarlowShapley]

At the age of 29, @HarlowShapley began working at the @MtWilsonObs's 60-inch telescope in 1914. Mapping globular clusters led him to make two major discoveries: 1) the #MilkyWay was bigger than we thought, and 2) our #solarsystem was not at its center.

Photo: Babak A. Tafreshi

[Harlow Shapley @HarlowShapley]

"Astronomers must keep their eyes and ears open, watching and listening.... They must dream of the impossible, and promptly design the best way to attain it."

Harlow Shapley
Scientific American, Vol. 183, Number 3, September, 1950 (p. 25)

#JWST https://t.co/d6BAPuWr5o

[Harlow Shapley @HarlowShapley]

@nadiamdrake Great discussions, however contrived, have value. I.E. the Great Debate between @HarlowShapley and Heber Curtis:

"Regardless of the immediate value ... It did ... become a model for bringing the nature of the scientific method more into the public eye."

https://t.co/oztVRuiDXB