SWAN LEAVITT
Astronomer 

Leavitt was the daughter of a Congregational Minister, as well as descendant of

the Philgrims - known, or relatively unknown, for noticing that there was a

"regular" relationship between the brightness of Cepheid stars and the period

of their variation. This lead to the discovery that one could consequently

determine the distance to a single Cepheid of a known period, and through

measuring the luminosity of other Cepheids of the same period, it would

allow one to determine the distance to other stars.

From observing the stars luminescence deteriorate inversely with the

square of the distance to the star, once can, with a degree of accuracy, 

determine the distance to distant stars.

Leavitt did not receive a Noble Prize for the discovery, however, as time has

progressed, the scientific community has recognized her work as revolutionary.