Introduction on astronomy 

Only one sun with planets is proven in the entire well-known universe. No further systems with sun (or suns) and planets have been proven.
The planets orbit only around our sun.

This is practically unknown by the population, it is assumed that this is kept as a secret. Planets have their orbit only around our sun. Every time we talk about solar systems, we mean only star systems (or double solar systems) without orbiting planets. See also solar system

 
 

DOUBLE SUN = double star 

Here circle two or several suns each other. To that extent the term "solar system" is correct, however no planets are available, which draw their courses around the central sun(s). So far, when only planets are available in the system and no sun, then the term "planet system" is correct instead of "solar system".

The term star is reserved  for other suns in the astronomy. 
It is not used for planets. The white points at the starlit sky are suns, thus stars which possess an own radiation strength. These are not planets. http://www.astronomie.de/sonnensystem/index.htm
 
 

How huge are the largest star in the universe? 
Probably several thousands times the diameter of our sun. 
Beteigeuze for example has about such a diameter. 
 
 

Why is the earth in daily rotation? 
Nobody knows exactly why. It is assumed that it still comes from the Big Bang. The raw material was also to be found in rotation. 
 
 

Are there gravitation waves? 
The existence of gravitation waves follows from Einstein General Relativity Theory. So far these were not proven yet. Gravitation waves cause a distortion of the space. 
 
 
 

When are all planets in our solar system close to each other? 
- At next, the planets were formed on 11 April 1128  - 
      they were into a sector of only 40 degrees. 
- on 1st of February 949, they were into a sector with an angle of 80 degrees. 
- on 6th of May 2492, they will be in a sector of 90 degrees. 
- 20.4.2002 to 4.5.2002 -  The planets are located in conjunction: 
       Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. The earth (terra) is in opposition ( other side of the sun).  Approximately in 20 years it will give the same constellation. 
All are visible with the naked eye. Naturally only at night with free view.

They were never located in a line and will never be located; so this could the end of the earth or the solar system. The equilibrium of the system would be disturbed. 
 
 

Fundamental to the galaxy . 
Our galaxy - the Milky Way - consists of approximately 10 billion stars and is a spiral galaxy. It has a diameter of approximately hundredthousand of light years.  Our sun is far away from the center of the galaxy and orbits the center with 220km/s (almost 800,000 kilometers per hour) on an almost circular course. The light of the center of the Milky Way needs about 25000 years, in order to reach us. In comparison: the light needs only about 8 minutes from the sun to reach the earth. Other galaxy types are elliptical galaxies, S0-Galaxien, irregular (only from the outer appearance) and dwarf galaxies. Galaxies mostly form groups or clusters. These form anew superclusters, which are separated from each other from huge empty spaces (voids). 

The Milky Way belongs to the local group, together with the Andromedanebula, the M33-Galaxie, and as well as more than two dozen of dwarf galaxies. The local group have an expansion of approximately 5 million light-years. It is part of the Virgo supercluster. The Virgo galaxy cluster is at a distance of aproximately 50 million light-years from us. It contains about one hundred elliptical  S0-  and spiral - galaxies and over thousand dwarf galaxies. The total number of the galaxies in the observable part of the universe amounts to more than one trillion galaxies. The light, which we receive from the furthest  galaxies, was sent more than 12 billion years ago, thus only about 2.5 billion years after the Big Bang. 
 

Tardoxx: 

Gravitation - attraction
To understand one must make oneself clear that forces result only from the presence of a mass (a planet or a star), which affect other masses. 

Thus, comet appear to us every 76 years. This appearance rhythmus stays due to the gravitation attraction. The comet disappears then again in billions of kilometers and appears then again in the proximity of the earth. Only due to its mass, it is pulled from the sun. See glossary comet Gravitation-Development

What is a geodaete ? 
Geodaete with consideration of the gravitational pull 

A Geodaete is generally the shortest connection between 2 points on the earth's surface - this is called: the great-circle. 

Legend: If we want to go on the earth's surface from the point A to the point B, the shortest way  would be in a straight line along the yellow line through the earth. Since this is not possible, we will obligatorily have to go on the red line on the earth's surface . That would be then  under these circumstances the shortest way to the point B.
The red way is the Geodaete (great - circle) and longer than the yellow way. We go however the red way without noticing , that we are rerouted. In the case of airplanes, the red line is also the shortest way from A to B. 
SEE   also Space Curvature
 
 

Beam deflection 
The way of the light beam is curved within the area of a mass (s. picture down beam deflection ). 

Why are light beams also deflected from the attraction of planets, although light does not possess any mass? 

To understand this procedure we imagine the following: 
 
 
 
 

The wooden box in space 

A box floats in weightless space in the proximity of a sun. The box contains void of air - in other words - vacuum. 

 

The wooden box is now accelerated by a rocket with 9.81 meters for each second square in the space. That is the same earth acceleration due to gravity, which exists on earth. The box possess a small hole at the side panel, into which sunlight breaks in. 

Diagram: box in space is accelerated by rocket

The beam penetrates into the box through the hole and hits on the other side of the panel and withdraws again from the box.

However, the box continues to moves on its own speed (pushed by the rocket) even while the light flows from one side to the other side of the panel. Thus, the light-beam changes its direction; it is the difference between measurements 
" A " and " B ".  This difference depends on the speed and acceleration of the box. That was the preface - now to 3 separated cases: 
 
 

Situation: The box is not accelerated by the rocket - the box is weightless in the space. The light beam penetrates into the hole; the box does not move, since no acceleration is available, therefore the light beam ist not shifted in this case. The beam penetrates the hole into the box at point "E" and reach point "F" on the opposite wall. Without acceleration by the rocket, the measurement  "A" and "B" 
remains the same and the beam in the box is a straight line. 
 
 

The light beam penetrates into the hole, the box moves forward in regular speed  and the light beam reach the other side of the panel, shifted in its position through the acceleration of the rocket. The beam penetrates the hole in the box at point "E" and reaches point "F" un the opposite wall.

This light curvature is for an observer only within the box noticeable, only for those, who are subjected also to the acceleration of the rocket. For an observer, who is found to be outside the box, the light curvature is not available, since the beam flowes is a straight path. 

The invasion of the light beam is subjectively seen from the box, i.e. the box is fixed steadily by the observer and the movement of the box is not perceived. 
 

The box is admittedly still in motion, but the light beam remains on its previous place and mores only in its direction.
Subjectively seen from the light beam, it's still in motion in a straight line and does not bend. The measurement  of "A" is larger than the measurement of "B". The light beam forms a straight line within the box. 
 

The light beam in the diagram is fixed and the box moves firmly.
At the point "E" , the light beam penetrates and hits the wall on the opposite side at point "F". The beam has proceeded as usual an even course, however not for the observer, who is found to be in the box.

Case 3: 

The wooden box in space possesses two holes, one in the front ( here flows the beam in the box) and back side (here, the beam withdraws from the box). The distance of the holes can be determined from the rates of the box and the light.

Situation: The box is constantly further accelerated by the rocket and flies with constantly increasing speed in the space. The light beam falls into the hole. The box continues to moves on and the light reach the other side of the panel, shifted from its position through the acceleration. The beam penetrates the hole into the box at point "E" and reach the opposite side at point "F".

The beam leaves then the box. The box still moves on, but the light beam remains on its previous course and moves only in its direction. Subjectively seen from the light beam - this means that we are observing only the light beam. Other way round, we would observe the box (see case 2). 

Here in the case 3, the beam make back a hyperbola - thus a curve. This is the result of additional acceleration and the rising speed. The observer outside of the box sees the light beam however moving further in a straight line without changing its position. 
For the observer within the box is the measurement "A" larger than the measurement "B". This light curvature is only for an observer within the box noticeably, only for those, who are also subjected to the acceleration of the rocket. For those, who are found to the outside the box, the light curvature is not available, since the beam moves in a straight line. 

The cases 1 to 3 prove that the rays of light also appear curved without actual bend. But there is also the other case that sunbeams experience a diverson (bend) by the gravitation.
 

The aforementioned possibilities of the apparent beam deflection
in geometrical form are present. This circumstances change
however nothing in the fact that rays of light are also affected
by the force of gravity.
 
 

Light beams at the sun 
The same applies to light which is found in the proximity of suns or planets. Even this light beam remains in a straight line for observers outside the box.  One must imagine, according to the situation, to be inside the box, since the curvature is only noticeable within the box.

To the diagram beam deflection: 
In the environment of massive heavenly bodies the space is curved by the gravitation (attraction). That applies also to light beams. From the star at point 4, light beams are transmitted. The star is seen from the earth. However, we mean  that the star is located at point 3. But the beams turn at point 2 and the star is 
actually located at point 4. All this is due to the curvature of the space. 

The shortest connection between 2 points in the curved space is the curve. When comets move outside the solar system and are able to move back to the sun , this applies to the characteristic , that comets are also found to be on the shortest way (an elliptical course).

The gravitation curves the space and the space moves the matter. Curvature is actually defined as to bend a straight line to a curvature which means to an ellipse. That is the shortest way around a sun in a curved space. Planets also take elliptical course. 

Summary - light-beam curvature (bend):
It happens in different cases:
1) the light-beam curvature (bend) occurs as in the examples with the "box in space". see HERE
However in this case no actual diffraction of ray of light is 
present, but it only appears like this for the observer in the crate. For an observer outside the box, the ray of light move accurately straight on. HERE

2) A light-beam curvature (bend) is caused by the gravitation. 

Both are correct.
 
 
 
 
 

Background information 
see light beam curvature      and  seeing of human part 1 -  part 2
How is an object seen      Entire on curved space-time
 
 
 

Distances

 earth - moon  Erde – Sonne                                    8 Lichtminuten  lightminutes lm
 sun pluto       Sonne – Pluto                                    4 Lichtstunden = 0,0003 Lj  lightyears
 next star -     nächster Stern: Proxima Centauri        4,1 lj  Lichtjahre lightyears
 centrum milky way  Zentrum Milchstraße                30.000 Lj
 next galaxy  nächste Galaxie: Magellansche Wolke  160.000 Lj
 Andromeda-Galaxie                              2.200.000 Lj
 Zentrum Virgohaufen                            50.000.000 Lj
 next - nächster Quasar                          500.000.000 Lj
 farest object   entferntestes Objekt        14.000.000.000 Lj
 kosmischer Horizont (3 K-Strahlung)    15.000.000.000 Lj