9th Jan, 2024 13:00
Photographs & Optical Toys
Stereo Diaposotive Image of the 1919 Eclipse Used to Prove Einstein's Theory of Relativity
English, c.1919, unsigned stereo image of the 1919 solar eclipse, the stereo image constructed of 2 separate images of the eclipse mounted on a single clear glass background.
Condition: the images on good condition, the mounting tape has perished so one image os loose.
The 1919 Solar Eclipse - Approximately a century ago, a momentous event transpired: a total solar eclipse. This celestial occurrence held unique significance, not only due to its unprecedented duration of just under seven minutes but also because it became a pivotal arena for investigating Einstein's groundbreaking theory of general relativity.
In 1915, Albert Einstein introduced his general theory of relativity to the scientific world. The total solar eclipse of 1919 presented an ideal opportunity to experimentally scrutinize this theory, probing the ways in which the immense gravitational force of the Sun bends and distorts the light from distant stars, as predicted by Einstein. During the brief eclipse, the Moon obstructed the Sun's light, unveiling stars typically hidden by the Sun's glare. This rare moment allowed astronomers to observe and measure the positions of these stars, comparing them to their nocturnal counterparts, thus determining if their light rays bent in proximity to the Sun, as posited by Einstein.
At the forefront of this transformative 1919 experiment were three astronomers: Arthur Eddington, Frank Watson Dyson, and Andrew Crommelin. Eddington and Crommelin embarked on journeys to locations where the eclipse would be total—Eddington to Príncipe in West Africa and Crommelin to Sobral in Brazil—while Dyson orchestrated the endeavor from England.
The imaging technology of the time, namely glass photographic plates, served as the astronomers' tools. Regrettably, the original plates from the 1919 expedition, including one reproduced in Dyson's original paper, have been lost. Fortunately, duplicates of one plate were disseminated to observatories worldwide, enabling scientists to visually confirm the evidence supporting Einstein's theory of relativity. A recent scanning of a copy from Sobral by Landessternwarte Heidelberg-Königstuhl has brought this historical experiment to light once again as part of the Heidelberg Digitized Astronomical Plates, emphasizing the enduring connection between Einstein's visionary theory and this pivotal celestial event.
The image in this lot appears to have been taken by another astronomer as no mention of stereo-photography can be found in any of the articles published by Eddington, Watson Dyson, or Crommelin at the time. The stereo image has captured the exact solar flare from the 1919 eclipse. We have overlaid this image with a copy of the plate by Eddington and Crommelin and the flare matches in size and the point of magnetic relocation. As such it is the only stereo view of this event we are aware of in existence.
Sold for £600
Result including buyers premium
English, c.1919, unsigned stereo image of the 1919 solar eclipse, the stereo image constructed of 2 separate images of the eclipse mounted on a single clear glass background.
Condition: the images on good condition, the mounting tape has perished so one image os loose.
The 1919 Solar Eclipse - Approximately a century ago, a momentous event transpired: a total solar eclipse. This celestial occurrence held unique significance, not only due to its unprecedented duration of just under seven minutes but also because it became a pivotal arena for investigating Einstein's groundbreaking theory of general relativity.
In 1915, Albert Einstein introduced his general theory of relativity to the scientific world. The total solar eclipse of 1919 presented an ideal opportunity to experimentally scrutinize this theory, probing the ways in which the immense gravitational force of the Sun bends and distorts the light from distant stars, as predicted by Einstein. During the brief eclipse, the Moon obstructed the Sun's light, unveiling stars typically hidden by the Sun's glare. This rare moment allowed astronomers to observe and measure the positions of these stars, comparing them to their nocturnal counterparts, thus determining if their light rays bent in proximity to the Sun, as posited by Einstein.
At the forefront of this transformative 1919 experiment were three astronomers: Arthur Eddington, Frank Watson Dyson, and Andrew Crommelin. Eddington and Crommelin embarked on journeys to locations where the eclipse would be total—Eddington to Príncipe in West Africa and Crommelin to Sobral in Brazil—while Dyson orchestrated the endeavor from England.
The imaging technology of the time, namely glass photographic plates, served as the astronomers' tools. Regrettably, the original plates from the 1919 expedition, including one reproduced in Dyson's original paper, have been lost. Fortunately, duplicates of one plate were disseminated to observatories worldwide, enabling scientists to visually confirm the evidence supporting Einstein's theory of relativity. A recent scanning of a copy from Sobral by Landessternwarte Heidelberg-Königstuhl has brought this historical experiment to light once again as part of the Heidelberg Digitized Astronomical Plates, emphasizing the enduring connection between Einstein's visionary theory and this pivotal celestial event.
The image in this lot appears to have been taken by another astronomer as no mention of stereo-photography can be found in any of the articles published by Eddington, Watson Dyson, or Crommelin at the time. The stereo image has captured the exact solar flare from the 1919 eclipse. We have overlaid this image with a copy of the plate by Eddington and Crommelin and the flare matches in size and the point of magnetic relocation. As such it is the only stereo view of this event we are aware of in existence.
Auction: Photographs & Optical Toys, 9th Jan, 2024
