Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin

Cecilia Helena Payne-Gaposchkin (May 10, 1900 - December 7, 1979) was a prominent British-American astronomer and astrophysicist, best known for being the first to propose, in her 1925 doctoral thesis, that stars are primarily composed of hydrogen and helium —a revolutionary idea that transformed the understanding of stellar composition. Although her findings were initially met with skepticism, they were later confirmed and recognized as one of the foundational discoveries of modern astrophysics.

Quotes

• Young people, especially young women, often ask me for advice. Here it is, valeat quantum. Do not undertake a scientific career in quest of fame or money. There are easier and better ways to reach them. Undertake it only if nothing else will satisfy you; for nothing else is probably what you will receive. Your reward will be the widening of the horizon as you climb. And if you achieve that reward you will ask no other.
• I was to blame for not having pressed my point. I had given in to Authority when I believed I was right. That is another example of How Not To Do Research. I note it here as a warning to the young. If you are sure of your facts, you should defend your position.