1919 solar eclipse. Image 1 of 3. This set of images, taken by the British astronomer Arthur Eddington (1882-1944), confirmed Einstein's theory of general relativity. The stars near the Sun appear slightly shifted because their light is curved by its gravitational field. This shift is only noticeable during a solar eclipse as at other times the Sun's brightness obscures the stars. This is a total solar eclipse, when the moon fits over the Sun so only its corona (atmosphere) is visible. Image taken form Principe Island, Gulf of Guinea, on 29 May 1919. For a sequence of the eclipse see R506/416-R506/418.