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was the English astrophysicist who developed a theory of the structure of stars that today serves as the foundation for all similar work. He explained how a star's energy is transported from its core and showed how the luminosity of a star is affected by its mass. He also offered
the first observational evidence of the Theory of General Relativity. A hugely influential astronomer, he not only inspired his colleagues but also introduced astronomy, in particular the work of Edwin Hubble (1889-1953) on the expansion of the Universe, to a much wider audience.
Life Story
1882
Born on December 28 in Kendal, Cumbria, England. His childhood and early education are in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England.
1898
Enters Owen's College, University of Manchester, England, where he studies physics.
1902
Wins a scholarship to study mathematics at Trinity College, Cambridge University.
1904
Graduates from Trinity College as Senior Wrangler (top of his year) in mathematics.
1906
Becomes Chief Assistant at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, England, where he works on stellar motions.
1907
Elected Fellow of Trinity College.
1912
Leads an expedition to observe a solar eclipse from Brazil.
1913
Appointed Plumian Professor of Astronomy at Cambridge University.
1914
Becomes Director of Cambridge University Observatory. Elected Fellow of the Royal Society, London. Publishes Stellar Movements and the Structure of the Universe, based on his work at the Royal Observatory.
1916
Starts work on a study of the composition of stars. He establishes that a star's energy is transported away from its core by radiation, and that radiation has a fundamental role in maintaining stellar equilibrium.
1918
Eddington is interested in the work on relativity of Albert Einstein (1879-1955). Publishes Report on the Relativity Theory of Gravitation.
1919
Although now based at Cambridge University, Eddington joins astronomers from the Royal Observatory on an expedition to Príncipe Island, off Cameroon on the west coast of Africa, to observe a solar eclipse due on May 29. The eclipse offers the chance to test Einstein's prediction that rays of light are affected by gravitation. The eclipse observations show that they are, providing the first observational evidence of the General Theory of Relativity.
1920
Space, Time, and Gravitation, an account for the general reader, is published.
1921
Appointed President of the Royal Astronomical Society, London. The appointment is for two years.
1923
Publishes The Mathematical Theory of Relativity.
1924
Presents his work on the relationship between the mass and the luminosity of a star. This leads to a total revision of ideas on stellar evolution. He is awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society for his work on extra galactic nebulas and galaxies.
1926
Eddington's work on the structure of stars is published in his influential book The Internal Constitution of the Stars. He is the first astronomer to deduce a relationship between the mass of a star and its radiation output. He also puts forward the pulsation theory of Cepheid variable stars (that some stars expand and contract due to internal pressures), and the theory that white dwarfs (stars that have collapsed under the effects of their own gravity) can be extremely dense.
1927
Publishes Stars and Atoms, a book written for the general reader.
1928
Publishes The Nature of the Physical World, another book written for the general reader.
1930
Eddington is knighted by King George V.
1933
Publishes The Expanding Universe, which brings the recent work of American Astronomer Edwin Hubble (1889-1953) and others on the expansion of the Universe to a more general audience.
1938
Receives the Order of Merit from King George VI and is appointed President of the International Astronomical Union.
1944
November 22, Eddington fails to recover after surgery and dies.
1946
Eddington's Fundamental Theory is published posthumously.
1947
The Royal Astronomical Society institutes the Eddington Medal for outstanding work on theoretical astronomy
