A life of research
Born in England, he studied in Manchester and Cambridge, becoming a leading figure in theoretical astronomy. He sought to explain stars through physical laws rather than simply describe their appearance and positions.
In 1919 he helped organise observations of a solar eclipse and led the expedition to Príncipe. A second team observed from Sobral; the investigation was a shared effort involving Frank Dyson and Charles Davidson.
Understanding the contribution
By comparing the apparent positions of stars near the eclipsed Sun, the teams tested whether gravity deflected their light. The results supported general relativity, although their precision and interpretation later attracted historical debate.
Eddington also investigated the balance of gravity, pressure and radiation inside stars. His 1926 book, The Internal Constitution of the Stars, brought together a physical approach to their structure and luminosity.