2007-06-20 16:12:23 · 5 answers · asked by tony s 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Linda June is almost totally correct. However, we (humanity) tested this once using the planet Mercury as it passed just behind the sun. As we expected the massiveness of the sun does curve space a bit but the way we see the planet Mercury is with ...Sun Light... bouncing off of the planet and then back past the space curved by the sun and to our eyeballs. So technically I would say that the sun's light can be affected IF it is reflected first off of something else (like a planet).
As far as the sun's position in space, the curvature in space might cause the light to have to travel a slight bit more distance, but overall, since we would also have to travel through this curved space to reach the sun... It therefor IS where it Appears to be...
2007-06-20 17:43:29 · answer #1 · answered by erikfaraway 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. The rotation of the Earth and the time it takes for light to travel 93,000,000 miles causes the Sun to actually be in a spot two degrees different from where it looks like it is when we see it.
2007-06-20 16:43:30 · answer #2 · answered by zahbudar 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, the sun's mass doesn't affect the light we see from the sun.
But the sun's mass does gravitationally affect starlight coming from stars. During a total eclipse in 1919, Arthur Eddington observed the light from stars passing close to the sun was slightly bent, so that stars appeared slightly out of position. This confirmed Einstein's theory of General Relativity.
2007-06-20 16:22:14 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The "massiveness" of the sun you're talking about isn't enough to distort space that much. It would have to be the massiveness of millions of suns.
2007-06-20 16:16:47 · answer #4 · answered by aximili12hp 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
no what causes it is it take eight minutes for light to hit earth adn then out atmosphere distorts items in space like a straw in a half cup of water
2007-06-20 17:01:41 · answer #5 · answered by kidplaya99 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋