A Modern Eddington Experiment

ORAL

Abstract

In 1919, the Eddington experiment provided the first experimental test of general relativity: a measurement of the deflection of starlight by the sun's gravity during a total eclipse. In 2024, a team of astronomers, professors, and students set out to perform the Modern Eddington Experiment (MEE2024) using modern telescopes, cameras, computers, and astronomical databases. Analysis of our first set of images yielded a measurement of (γ+1)/2 = 1.05 ± 0.14 in the parameterized post-Newtonian formalism. While this measurement is consistent with general relativity (γ=1), we did not realize our goal of increased precision for this experiment. I will describe our expedition to Mexico, our observation protocol, our ongoing efforts in data analysis, and lessons learned from this demanding and rewarding experiment that may be of value in the upcoming total eclipses of 2027 and 2028.

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Publication: William A. Dittrich, Donald G. Bruns, Richard Berry, Kenneth Carrell, Douglas Smith, Andrew D. P. Smith, Daniel Borrero-Echeverry, Greg Kinne, Joseph M. Izen, Heather Hill, Greg Mulder, J. Jedediah Rembold, Cesar Delgado, Anna E. Hornbeck, Sam A. Jeffe, Jared R. McSorley, Olivia E. Schutz, Maddie Strate, Ehsan Matin, Jesse Kinder, Paul Poncy, Cade Freels, Josue Benitez-Flores, Rose Smith, Bryan Bauer, Calvin Rajendram, Sara Leathers, Luana Fenstemacher, Michael P. Clark, Eve Kempe, Tyler Slaght, Kaleah Webb, Colin Bradley, Sophia Plascencia, Gavin Le, Austyn C. Moon, Yoojin Choi, Andrew Tom, Stasha Youngquist, Kelsey Castaneda, Noel Marichalar, Isaac Muench, Calvin Nash, Raymond Brown, James Obermiller, Garath Vetters, and Ekam Singh (2025). Modern Eddington Experiment 2024: Results and Conclusions. Bulletin of the AAS, 56(9). https://doi.org/10.3847/25c2cfeb.7f092727

Presenters

  • Jesse M Kinder

    Oregon Institute of Technology

Authors

  • Jesse M Kinder

    Oregon Institute of Technology