Einstein and Eddington and the eclipse in Principe: Celebration and science 100 years after

Abstract

On May 29, 1919, at Roça Sundy, Principe island, Eddington confirms Einstein's general relativity theory for the first time by photographing stars behind the obscured Sun during a total eclipse. History was made. At Sobral, Eddington's astronomer colleagues photograph the same eclipse and also conclude that light from distant stars suffers a deflection when passing by the gravitational field of the Sun, in accordance with general relativity. With the confirmation of general relativity, a theory of gravitation at a fundamental level, physics became, once and for all, relativist and its future was outlined. The first world war had finished a few months before and the deep wounds between nations were yet to heal. Science wanted to be above it all showing that people could be united by a common goal. This year, the 100 years of this achievement was commemorated with the scientific conference "From Einstein and Eddington to LIGO: 100 years of gravitational light deflection" in Principe to celebrate this landmark event. We report here on this conference of celebration.