The eclipse photo that made Einstein famous

In 1919, a total solar eclipse helped redefine gravity.

Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity, published in 1915, defined gravity as the influence of massive objects, like planets and stars, curving space around them. This was very different from the way Isaac Newton had defined gravity over 200 years earlier: Newton described an attracting force that kept planets and stars in orbit with each other. If Einstein was right, then light would also bend near massive objects. And in 1919, two British expeditions set out to test it by photographing a total solar eclipse. By comparing the position of stars with the sun in front of them and another with the sun elsewhere, Arthur Eddington and his team proved that the stars’ apparent positions moved during the eclipse. This was the first, but not the last time Einstein’s theory of general relativity was tested and proven, and Einstein became a celebrity overnight. He remained a pop culture icon for the rest of his life.

Further reading:
A determination of the deflection of light by the sun's gravitational field, from observations made at the total eclipse of May 29, 1919 (Dyson, Eddington, Davidson, 1920):

[eduardomarques]

I live in Sobral, Brazil. We have a museum dedicated to this event, and a statue of Einstein here. It's nice to see that this town was a tiny part of this important event in history.

[TheMongooseOfDoom]

I really love that this video doesn't omit the fact that Newton also predicted a displacement, or that the data was clear, but not perfect. Most pop-science tellings of this story go like: They held the two photographic plates over each other and there was a displacement and therefore Einstein was right. Good job for taking the time to tell the true story. Please continue stressing that science gains knowledge from careful observation of messy data, that is at the edge of our ability to measure.

[caesar]

Fun Fact - Albert Einstein did not get a Nobel Prize for his theory of relativity but did get a Nobel Prize earlier for explaining the photoelectric effect which he is lesser known for.

[DimkaPlotnikoff]

The idea that a Solar eclipse can be used to prove the Relativity theory was suggested by Einstein in 1911. The first expedition to prove Einstein theory was planned for the 1914 solar eclipse to be seen in Southern Russia - and this didn't happen due to the Great war that just started. The 1919 expedition was the second attempt.

[elias]

"If you're not confused, you're not thinking" - Einstein

[abcabcq]

What parents think we watch: memes and funny videos


What we actually watch:

[lesussie]

1919: a picture is used to create/confirm general ralativity
2019: general relativity is used to create/confirm a picture

Beautiful

[conanichigawa]

1919: Eclipse Photo
2019: Black Hole Photo

Poetry.

[franciryyy]

They observed the eclipse in my city!!! Sobral!!!

[MasterNinjaOfShadows]

Very excited to see how important that photo of the black hole is in a 100 years like the Einstein one

[yagoovirus]

Is it just me or I learn more in internet than in schools, youtube helped me to love science, history and more while at school I always hate them

[Brickzie]

1619: Kepler's laws of planetary motion finished
1719: Euler bricks
1819: First comet surface detailed & first steamship across Atlantic
1919: Gravity updated, IAU formed & first flight across Atlantic
2019: Black holes recorded
2119: Wormholes charted

[kingace]

Shoutout to Sir Arthur Eddington & Sir Frank Watson Dyson. Not just for being revolutionaries of astrophysics in their own right, but for breaking down barriers and taking a shot on what seemed like an impossibility back then.

[rasappa]

It also conveys this message of: "Proving/ spreading is as important as discovering/ inventing".

[Cusk]

There's a good movie about this from the BBC a while back. It's called Einstein and Eddington

[ejmtv]

I miss the days when Scientists were like celebrities back then.

[neb]

These videos are made so well. They're really beautifully designed and made. Well done vox!

[aisyisophian]

The part about them working together during a war proves that love for science is universal. Made me tear up...

[SomeoneCommenting]

It's amazing that the black hole picture was taken 100 years later, like if it had been an anniversary celebration on purpose.

[phipimonares]

I don't care if the next videos took another 2-3 months, but please never ever stop making these groundbreaking documentary bits cause it's jaw dropping, and enigmatic.