The 2017 solar eclipse did not provide new measurements to validate Einstein's theory of General Relativity (GR) regarding light bending. The primary focus of the experiments conducted during the eclipse was on coronal physics, leaving unanswered questions in that area. Previous tests of GR predictions have been conducted extensively, and any future attempts would require significantly increased precision and funding. Notably, amateur experiments mentioned in various articles are not aimed at producing publishable results and do not contribute to extending the evidence for GR.
PREREQUISITESAstronomers, physicists, and students interested in the validation of General Relativity, as well as amateur astronomers looking to engage in serious astrophysical research.
Huh? What's the connection?smodak said:Did the 2017 eclipse prove Einstein was right or the jury is still out?
PAllen said:So far as I know, there were no measurements of light bending for this eclipse. GR predictions of light bending have been tested so many times in so many ways there would be no point in doing them again unless someone figured out how to significantly increase precision and got funding for it. The experiments done for this eclipse primarily focused on coronal physics, for which there remain unanswered questions.
These are articles about amateurs taking on the challenge of duplicating a famous experiment. It is really cool that this is just within the grasp of an advanced amateur, but these are not experiments aimed at publishable results (though, I guess, if someone got good enough results, they could get a note published somewhere). These are certainly not serious attempts to extend the evidence for GR.smodak said:I was confused by the NASA (and other) article.
https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/testing-general-relativity
https://www.livescience.com/59940-solar-eclipse-einstein-theory-of-general-relativity.html
They talk about amateurs testing GR, but somehow I took that as GR is being re validated