Soon after this visit, Barnard was hospitalized and received treatment; he passed
away after 6 weeks at age 67. The Yamamotos attended the funeral held at the
observatory (Figs. 4.4 and 4.5).
In November 1924, Yamamoto moved to the Harvard College Observatory
(HCO), where he continued the photographic photometry of variable stars under
collaboration with Harlow Shapley (1885–1972), the observatory’s fifth director.
The HCO is well known for two big projects, spectral classification and stellar
photometry, promoted by E. C. Pickering and carried out by a group of women
astronomers. When Yamamoto arrived, these works were almost finished. Annie
J. Cannon had just published the last volume of the Henry Draper Catalogue, and
Henrietta Leavitt was already deceased.
Cannon was a naturally sociable person and an optimist. He became fast friends
with Mr. and Mrs. Yamamoto and invited them on driving tours and to musical
concerts. They visited each other’s homes and spent many relaxed hours together.
Fig. 4.4 Snapshot of
Barnard at Yerkes
Observatory in 1922,
photographed by
Yamamoto. (Yamamoto
Album, Department of
Astronomy, Kyoto
University)
Fig. 4.5 Snapshot of
Shapley at tea time at HCO
in November 1924,
photographed by
Yamamoto. (Yamamoto
Album, Department of
Astronomy, Kyoto
University)
4.1 Yamamoto Issei and Variable Stars
85
away after 6 weeks at age 67. The Yamamotos attended the funeral held at the
observatory (Figs. 4.4 and 4.5).
In November 1924, Yamamoto moved to the Harvard College Observatory
(HCO), where he continued the photographic photometry of variable stars under
collaboration with Harlow Shapley (1885–1972), the observatory’s fifth director.
The HCO is well known for two big projects, spectral classification and stellar
photometry, promoted by E. C. Pickering and carried out by a group of women
astronomers. When Yamamoto arrived, these works were almost finished. Annie
J. Cannon had just published the last volume of the Henry Draper Catalogue, and
Henrietta Leavitt was already deceased.
Cannon was a naturally sociable person and an optimist. He became fast friends
with Mr. and Mrs. Yamamoto and invited them on driving tours and to musical
concerts. They visited each other’s homes and spent many relaxed hours together.
Fig. 4.4 Snapshot of
Barnard at Yerkes
Observatory in 1922,
photographed by
Yamamoto. (Yamamoto
Album, Department of
Astronomy, Kyoto
University)
Fig. 4.5 Snapshot of
Shapley at tea time at HCO
in November 1924,
photographed by
Yamamoto. (Yamamoto
Album, Department of
Astronomy, Kyoto
University)
4.1 Yamamoto Issei and Variable Stars
85