Abstract

De Sitter showed that if the velocity of light is constant with respect to the source, distant binaries will exhibit certain peculiarities that have not been observed. This is usually regarded as proof of the validity of Einstein’s second postulate of special relativity. But there are several ways of invalidating the proof. One of the most promising ways—that of employing Riemannian space for light—is considered in this paper.

Data on visual binaries, spectroscopic binaries, and cepheids are calculated for Euclidean space and for Riemannian space of constant positive curvature (R=5 light years). The acceptance of Riemannian space allows us to reject Einstein’s relativity and to keep all the ordinary ideas of time and all the ideas of Euclidean space out to a distance of a few light years. Astronomical space remains Euclidean for material bodies, but light is considered to travel in Riemannian space. In this way the time required for light to reach us from the most distant stars is only 15 years.

© 1953 Optical Society of America

The Visibility of Stars and Planets During Twilight

R. Tousey and M. J. Koomen
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 43(3) 177-183 (1953)

The Luneburg Theory of Binocular Visual Space*

Albert A. Blank
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 43(9) 717-727 (1953)

Quantitative Evaluation of Multiply Scattered and Diffusely Reflected Light in the Direction of a Stellar Source in a Rayleigh Atmosphere*

Diran Deirmendjian and Zdeněk Sekera
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 43(12) 1158-1165 (1953)

The Relative Photographic Efficiency of Certain Light Sources*

Robert N. Wolfe and Francis H. Milligan
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 43(9) 791-797 (1953)

Structure of the Associated OH Valence Vibration Band in Light and Heavy Acetic, Trichloroacetic, and Trifluoroacetic Acids*

Nelson Fuson and Marie–Louise Josien
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 43(11) 1102-1105 (1953)