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Today in History · May 29, 1919

The eclipse that proved Einstein right

British expeditions photograph stars near the eclipsed Sun and confirm general relativity.

A total solar eclipse on May 29, 1919 let two British expeditions, led by Arthur Eddington, photograph stars close to the darkened Sun to test Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity.

The measured bending of starlight matched Einstein’s prediction, and when the results were announced that November he became a worldwide celebrity almost overnight.

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1453 The fall of Constantinople

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