Solar eclipse of May 29, 1919
Solar eclipse of May 29, 1919 | |
---|---|
UTC) | |
Greatest eclipse | 13:08:55 |
References | |
Saros | 136 (32 of 71) |
Catalog # (SE5000) | 9326 |
The May 29, 1919 total solar eclipse occurred because the Moon aligned between the sun and the Earth in which they appeared overlapped to a certain population of observers on the Earth. The moon covers the sun’s light which leads to an absence of light for a small period of time. The solar eclipse which occurred on May 29, 1919 was the longest solar eclipse that had been observed and recorded up until June 8, 1937. This eclipse was visible through locations like Southeastern Peru and northern Chile. This specific total solar eclipse was significant because it helped prove Einstein's Theory of Relativity.[1] The eclipse was the subject to the Eddington experiment. Two groups of British astronomers went to Brazil and the west coast of Africa to take pictures of the stars in the sky once the moon covered the sun and darkness was revealed.[1] Those photos helped prove that the sun interferes with the bend of star light.[1]
Observations and Locations
A total solar eclipse occurred on Thursday, May 29, 1919. With the duration of totality at maximum eclipse of 6 minutes 50.75 seconds, it was the longest solar eclipse that occurred since May 27, 1416. A longer total solar eclipse would later occur on June 8, 1937.
As the eclipse of 1919 occurred only 0.8 days after perigee (May 28), the Moon's apparent diameter was larger than usual.[clarification needed]
It was visible throughout most of
Connection to The General Theory of Relativity
Newton's laws of physics ran on the belief of absolute time and three dimensions of space. [2] This idea meant that time only had one dimension, and that it was universal.[2][3] Einstein had the idea of combining space and time to make a four dimensional world that worked together. [4][5] With Einstein's idea meant that extremely small matter particles could produce massive amounts of energy. [4] If Einstein's theory was correct matter and radiation would be connected to energy and momentum.[6] Meaning that when light was passing a large mass there would be an observable bend to the light. [6]
Albert Einstein's prediction of the bending of light by the gravity of the Sun, one of the components of his general theory of relativity, can be tested during a solar eclipse, when stars with apparent position near the Sun become visible. The stars can not be seen without a solar eclipse because stars passing the sun are drowned by solar glares.[7]
Following an unsuccessful attempt to validate this prediction during the
The solar eclipse of May 29, 1919 allowed Einstein to finalize his theory of relativity.[13] However, the May eclipse was almost missed, due to unexpected storms. [14] The astronomers were almost unable to get photos of this eclipse due to a cloud.[15][14] A thunderstorm happened during the morning of the eclipse, and it had been overcast that day and many of the days before hand.[15][14] Only thirty minutes before the eclipse did the clouds begin to dissipate, and even then they were taking many photos through gaps in the clouds.[14]
The photographs taken during the eclipse of May 29, 1919 proved Einstein correct and changed ideas of physics.[16] They also provided evidence that the sun’s bulk did shift the way a star’s light will bend.[13] From the findings from these expeditions Dyson is quoted saying "After a careful study of the plates, I am prepared to say that they confirm Einstein's prediction."[16] He continues to explain that it leaves little doubt about light deflection in the area around the sun and it is the amount Einstein demands in his generalized theory of relativity.[16]
Related eclipses
Before 1919 there were two eclipses in 1912 where this idea was almost proven, but there were outside factors against astronomers.[17] The first eclipse in 1912 was on April 17, but superstition, underfunding, and time overwhelmed the astronomers on this date.[18] A lot of superstition surrounded the eclipse due to the sinking of the Titanic; however a lack of funding, preparation, and time of total coverage of the sun would've also been a problem for photographic proof. [18] The second eclipse they wanted to photograph was on October 10 1912, and it was unable to be photographed due to rain. [19]
Solar eclipses 1916–1920
This eclipse is a member of a semester series. An eclipse in a semester series of solar eclipses repeats approximately every 177 days and 4 hours (a semester) at alternating nodes of the Moon's orbit.[20]
Solar eclipse series sets from 1916 to 1920 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Ascending node | Descending node | |||
111 | Partial |
116 | June 19, 1917 Partial | |
121 | December 14, 1917 Annular |
126 | June 8, 1918 Total | |
131 | December 3, 1918 Annular |
136 | May 29, 1919 Total | |
141 | November 22, 1919 Annular |
146 | May 18, 1920 Partial | |
151 | November 10, 1920 Partial |
Saros 136
Solar Saros 136, repeating every 18 years, 11 days, contains 71 events. The series started with partial solar eclipse on June 14, 1360, and reached a first annular eclipse on September 8, 1504. It was a hybrid event from November 22, 1612, through January 17, 1703, and total eclipses from January 27, 1721, through May 13, 2496. The series ends at member 71 as a partial eclipse on July 30, 2622, with the entire series lasting 1262 years. The longest eclipse occurred on June 20, 1955, with a maximum duration of totality at 7 minutes, 7.74 seconds. All eclipses in this series occurs at the Moon's descending node.[21]
Series members 29–43 occur between 1865 and 2117 | ||
---|---|---|
29 | 30 | 31 |
Apr 25, 1865 |
May 6, 1883 |
May 18, 1901 |
32 | 33 | 34 |
May 29, 1919 |
Jun 8, 1937 |
Jun 20, 1955 |
35 | 36 | 37 |
Jun 30, 1973 |
Jul 11, 1991 |
Jul 22, 2009 |
38 | 39 | 40 |
Aug 2, 2027 |
Aug 12, 2045 |
Aug 24, 2063 |
41 | 42 | 43 |
Sep 3, 2081 |
Sep 14, 2099 |
Sep 26, 2117
|
Inex series
This eclipse is a part of the long period inex cycle, repeating at alternating nodes, every 358 synodic months (≈ 10,571.95 days, or 29 years minus 20 days). Their appearance and longitude are irregular due to a lack of synchronization with the anomalistic month (period of perigee). However, groupings of 3 inex cycles (≈ 87 years minus 2 months) comes close (≈ 1,151.02 anomalistic months), so eclipses are similar in these groupings.
Inex series members between 1901 and 2100: | ||
---|---|---|
May 29, 1919 (Saros 136) |
May 9, 1948 (Saros 137) |
April 18, 1977 (Saros 138) |
March 29, 2006 (Saros 139) |
March 9, 2035 (Saros 140) |
February 17, 2064 (Saros 141) |
January 27, 2093 (Saros 142) |
Notes
- ^ ISBN 9780674974968.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-5417-6225-1.
- OCLC 951925837.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-5417-6225-1.
- OCLC 951925837.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-5417-6225-1.
- ISBN 0-309-07438-X.
- ^ Ethan Siegel, "America's Previous Coast-To-Coast Eclipse Almost Proved Einstein Right", Forbes, Aug 4, 2017. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
- ^ ”Eclipse 1919”, Web site commemorating the 1919 Solar Eclipse expedition, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
- PMID 25750149.
- ISBN 978-0-691-18386-2.
- .
- ^ ISBN 9780674974968.
- ^ OCLC 1051138098.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-5417-6225-1.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-68177-330-8.
- OCLC 1051138098.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-5417-6225-1.
- ISBN 978-1-5417-6225-1.
- ^ van Gent, R.H. "Solar- and Lunar-Eclipse Predictions from Antiquity to the Present". A Catalogue of Eclipse Cycles. Utrecht University. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
- ^ SEsaros136 at NASA.gov
References
- NASA chart and statistics
- Fotos of Solar Corona May 29, 1919
- Wired.com: May 29, 1919: A Major Eclipse, Relatively Speaking
- Famous Eclipse of 1919