Eclipse of 1912 in Brazil. First attempt to measure the deflection of light and its comparison with the value proposed by Einstein in 1911

Abstract

The article describes the circumstances in which the first attempt was made to confirm one of the predictions of Einstein's theory, linked to the deviation of light by gravity, made at the eclipse occurred in 1912, by the expedition of the Observatorio Nacional Argentino that was installed in the town of Cristina (Brazil). The observations were planned at the request of Erwin Finlay-Freundlich, an astronomer who since 1911 helped with verifications of the ideas of the eminent German physicist. The relationships that occurred between the director of the Argentine institution, Charles D. Perrine and Freundlich, and with the director of the Observatório do Rio de Janeiro, Henrique C. Morize are detailed. In addition to these little-known events, the expeditions of 1914 and 1916 are described, as well as the reasons why the ONA was not present at the famous eclipse of 1919.

Keywords:
Solar Eclipses; Relativity Theory; Observatorio Nacional Argentino; Observatório Astronômico do Rio de Janeiro