The Determination of Stellar Distances

Abstract

IN his presidential address delivered before the Royal Astronomical Society, in connexion with the celebration of that society's centenary (see NATURE, June 24, p. 815), Prof. Eddington referred to six great landmarks of astronomical progress during that century. He pointed out that this was a record of advance which was continuous, and not in great waves followed by periods of exhaustion. As he further remarked, the centre of most rapid progress has shifted from time to time and the various branches of astronomy have had their ups and downs. In this second category may perhaps be placed the determinations of the parallaxes or distances of the stars, because quite recently a very great impetus has been given to this branch of astronomy by the introduction of a rapid and effective new method.