Prof. Daniel John Kennefick
University of Arkansas
Not Only Because of Theory: The Meaning of Eddington’s “bias”
Abstract:
As the centenary of the 1919 Eclipse approaches, Arthur Stanley Eddington remains in the dock, accused of prejudging the outcome of the experiment he helped conduct to test Einstein’s theory of General Relativity. I discuss the reasons for his alleged bias towards GR but also show that it was his colleague Frank Watson Dyson who actually made the key decisions and argue that these were justified, especially in light of modern reanalysis of the eclipse plates. The Eclipse made Einstein world famous and it is well worth returning to the topic for the centenary, especially in view of the significant contribution made by Irish astronomers and instrument makers.
Location: 31 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2
Upcoming seminars:
https://www.dias.ie/2018/03/07/astronomy-and-astrophysics-seminar-schedule-2018/
Leave a Comment
Posted: 9th February 2018 by Rebeca Garcia
2018-03-07, 12:00, Prof. Daniel J. Kennefick (University of Arkansas), Not Only Because of Theory: The Meaning of Eddington’s “bias” at the 1919 Eclipse
Prof. Daniel John Kennefick
University of Arkansas
Not Only Because of Theory: The Meaning of Eddington’s “bias”
Abstract:
As the centenary of the 1919 Eclipse approaches, Arthur Stanley Eddington remains in the dock, accused of prejudging the outcome of the experiment he helped conduct to test Einstein’s theory of General Relativity. I discuss the reasons for his alleged bias towards GR but also show that it was his colleague Frank Watson Dyson who actually made the key decisions and argue that these were justified, especially in light of modern reanalysis of the eclipse plates. The Eclipse made Einstein world famous and it is well worth returning to the topic for the centenary, especially in view of the significant contribution made by Irish astronomers and instrument makers.
Location: 31 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2
Upcoming seminars:
https://www.dias.ie/2018/03/07
Category: Seminars
Today marks the date of birth of John L. Synge, 1897-1995, who served as Director of the @StpDias from 1956 to 1969. Synge brought a new direction and dynamism to the School with interests in general relativity geometry and a broad interest in all fields of classical physics.
It's #WorldPoetryDay! #DidYouKnow we have many books on ancient poetry for sale on or online shop?Find 'The wedding poems of Dáibhí Ó Bruadair', and 'Poems on the O'Reillys'. Browse the shop at bit.ly/2UObyHK
Next week Professor Chris Bean @dias_geophysics will give the second lecture in the series, ‘Earth processes - drivers for life’. Register to attend on Thursday 28th March here: eventbrite.ie/e/earth-proces… #DIASdiscovers
Prof @petertgallagher finishes his talk with a question for the audience to ponder, ‘Is there anyone or anything out there?’ #DIASdiscovers
Radio telescopes such as @I_LOFAR here in Ireland help scientists explore the question ‘What is extraterrestrial life?’ #DIASdiscovers
.@petertgallagher gives us some possible solutions to the Fermi Paradox which postulates the possible existence of extraterrestrial life #DIASdiscovers
As of March 2019 there are 3,925 confirmed exoplanets in the @NASA Exoplanet Archive. @petertgallagher explains how astrophysicists detect these planets by looking at light curves as they transit in front of stars. #DIASdiscovers
Prof @petertgallagher kicks off with an apt quote from Schrödinger, ‘Some of us should adventure to embark on a syntheses of facts and theories....and the risk of making fools of ourselves’ #DIASdiscovers
Registrar Eucharia Meehan currently introducing the series and today’s speaker @petertgallagher #DIASdiscovers
Today at DIAS Professor @petertgallagher is answering the question ‘What is Extra-terrestrial Life?’. This is the first talk in a four-part public lecture series exploring ‘What is Life?’, famously considered by Professor Erwin Schrödinger in 1943. #DIASdiscovers
Tomorrow, at 1pm, Professor @petertgallagher will ask “What is Extra-terrestrial Life?” in the first of a four part public lecture series. There are a limited number of places still available - reserve your place free of charge at bit.ly/2HEJfYN. #DIASdiscovers
Have you registered for our commemorative 'What is Life?' public lecture series? Part 1 taking place on Thursday with @petertgallagher. More info here: bit.ly/2FbUl5J
Trína tograí ceannródaíocha sna daonnachtaí digiteacha, anois tá saothar @SCSLibrary ar fáil ar fud an domhain ar an idirlíon. Sampla is ea an togra Ogham in 3D de thogra a chuidíonn go mór le caomhnú ár gcultúir #DIASdiscovers #SnaG19
Is í an Scoil an Léinn Cheiltigh an lárionad domhanda aitheanta don taighde sna teangacha agus litríochtaí Ceilteacha, an foilsitheoir acadúil is mó le rá sa réimse le taighde déanta ar an gCeilteachas in Éirinn agus i mór-roinn na hEorpa. #DIASdiscovers #SnaG19
Sa leabharlann ag @SCSLibrary tá an bailiúchán is cuimsithí agus is inrochtana de leabhair agus irisí faoin Léann Ceilteach ar oileán na hÉireann. #SnaG19 #DIASdiscovers
✨ Ag siúl siar le haghaidh #SnaG19 ✨ I DIAS sa bhlian 1978 foilsiú Corpus Iuris Hibernici, le Binchy - an phríomh obair ar dhlíthe Brehon go dtí an lá atá inniu ann. #DIASdiscovers
Ag siúl siar le haghaidh #SnaG19! I 1972 bhí DIAS freagrach as an gcéad turgnamh Éireannach riamh sa spás agus ar dhromchla na gealaí (misean NASA, Apollo 16) #DIASdiscovers