Solar Eclipse 2017

August 21 this year will show a solar eclipse in US. This will be something to look at, and also a test of Eddington’s observation from 1919. However, this is not a certain indication about GRT, since it is not certain  whether the effect is due to gravity or due to refraction by the corona. The Shapiro delay effect can also be caused by refraction instead of by gravity. An alternative way of observing during an eclipse is the following.

GRAVITY SHIELDING

A shielding effect is caused by the fact that gravity contribution from our sun must pass our moon, and thereby being reduced a small amount. The first order effect of this fact is compensated, but the effect can anyhow be observed, due to the fact that our moon is 4 times smaller than our planet. The effect is not the same all over our planet, and it is this GRADIENT that allows observation. (This is the same gradient that causes tides, since water is moving if gravity is not ortogonal to water surface.) The effect due to a gradient means that we can expect an effect before, and after the eclipse, of opposite sign in relation to the effect in the middle.

The effect in US during August 21 is in high elevation angles, and this means that we can detect the effect in a high sensitive interferometer. We can observe this phenomenon on both sides of our planet for about 2 hours (instead of 2 minutes), since partial eclipse is useful. An observation by means of an interferometer has been done in China by advanced equipment.

Observation by amateurs is possible on other parts of our planet, where elevation angle is low and horizontal effect can be observed. One method is to use a teodolit against a high antenna mast. Such observations have been reported by Janos Rohan. This method demands very good whether conditions. Another method is to observe motions of armatures in high churches. It is reasonable to assume an observable effect if the armature (as a pendelum) is long enough. This method does not demand perfect whether. Registration can be done by a simple, and well fixed TV-camera.

I have a question for CNPS members with contacts with mainstream:

Does anyone know if measurement with a gravimeter will take place in US during August 21? If so, answer to this post with a comment. If not so, it is a scandal.

John-Erik Persson