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wordsworm
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How do scientists measure the distance between the Earth and sun as it orbits? Do they use visual distance or do they account for distortions?
What is this "graviton" of which you speak? It's a hypothetical particle; it may or may not exist. Note very well: There is no such thing as a graviton in general relativity. General relativity is a not a quantum theory. It is a geometrical theory of gravitation.wordsworm said:DH: It was not my friend who said this, just a geology professor. If it is true that we are actually attracted to the sun itself rather than the image of the sun, then how can a 'particle' (graviton) that's never been seen or measured be assumed to be moving at light speed?
This is *not*, repeat not, the site to espouse your theory. Reread the site rules.And, more importantly, if we are attracted to the sun and not the image, as I have thought for some years now, then it would suggest that gravity moves at an infinite speed. And, if that is true also, I have an experiment I would really like to try to see if my own theory is correct or if Einstein's is.
For a long time I have wrestled with relativity, and found myself thinking that logically, it does not work for precisely the reason already brought up.
wordsworm said:DH: It was not my friend who said this, just a geology professor. If it is true that we are actually attracted to the sun itself rather than the image of the sun ...
That should be "the actual Sun and the gravitational image of the Sun are in the same place." The visual image of the Sun as perceived from an orbiting is not in the same place as the actual Sun. The aberration of light results in the Poynting-Robertson effect (Wikipedia article), which causes small particles to spiral inward towards the Sun.UltrafastPED said:That is: the actual sun and the image of the sun are in the same place; and this does not require instantaneous speeds for gravity any more than it does for light.
D H said:That should be "the actual Sun and the gravitational image of the Sun are in the same place." The visual image of the Sun as perceived from an orbiting is not in the same place as the actual Sun. The aberration of light results in the Poynting-Robertson effect (Wikipedia article), which causes small particles to spiral inward towards the Sun.
The purpose of measuring Earth's orbit is to understand and predict the movement of our planet around the sun. This information is important for various fields such as astronomy, navigation, and climate science.
There are several methods used to measure Earth's orbit, including geometric, photometric, and spectroscopic techniques. Geometric methods use observations of the sun's position in the sky to determine Earth's orbit, while photometric methods measure the amount of sunlight reflected by Earth. Spectroscopic methods analyze the light spectrum of the sun to determine Earth's orbital velocity.
The accuracy of the measurements of Earth's orbit depends on the method used and the technology available. Geometric methods have an accuracy of within a few kilometers, while photometric and spectroscopic methods have an accuracy of within a few meters.
There are several distortions that can affect the accuracy of Earth's orbit measurements, including atmospheric refraction, gravitational interactions with other planets, and the sun's irregular shape. These distortions can cause variations in Earth's orbital speed and position.
Scientists use mathematical models and corrections to account for distortions when measuring Earth's orbit. For example, atmospheric refraction can be corrected using atmospheric density models, and gravitational interactions can be accounted for using Newton's laws of motion. Additionally, scientists constantly refine and improve their measurement techniques to reduce the impact of distortions on the accuracy of Earth's orbit measurements.