Recession of the Galaxies in Eddington's Theory

Abstract

THE first important formula in Eddington's “Fundamental Theory” (Cambridge, 1946) is (p. 6) where R₀ is the radius of an Einstein universe, N the number of particles and σ the uncertainty constant of the physical origin. Einstein's formula for the total mass, considered as equivalent to ½N hydrogen atoms each of mass m, gives the independent relation (p. 10): From (1) and (2): and Eddington finds Lemaître's limiting speed of recession of the galaxies, V₀ = c/(R₀√3), to be 572 km./sec. per megaparsec. For this “most accurate” determination, he uses in (3) his formula for 1/σ as numerical multiple of the Rydberg constant. The ‘observed’ recession-factor he estimated (1944) to be 560 km./sec. per megaparsec, in agreement with his result.