<p>As time passes, we will be able to see objects that are further away, as their light eventually reaches us. Since gravity also travels at the speed of light, would we be able to detect when a super heavy object came within the visible universe?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-05-25T22:47:32.710Z
Are you asking "in theory" or "in practice"?
James K
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-05-26T07:27:30.423Z
It depends on *how superheavy it is* and what "detect" means. If it's an experimental apparatus that measures gravity, I don't think we routinely measure anything besides the Sun and Moon, and those can be measured with relatively simple equipment (probably at a few locations on Earth) and careful analysis, or just watching the tides go in and out. OR do you mean "detect" by it's gravitational effects on other distant astronomical objects we can observe?
uhoh
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2023-05-26T14:09:53.317Z
Does this answer your question? [Is it "nonsense to even talk about" objects outside the observable universe not having gravitational influence on us? (finite speed of gravity)](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/44989/is-it-nonsense-to-even-talk-about-objects-outside-the-observable-universe-not)  The first answer addresses about as clearly as possible why this won't happen.
antlersoft
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2023-05-27T00:20:12.527Z
@uhoh The latter. For example, the moon would be influenced between ±1.3 seconds before or after the earth, depending on the relative direction to the object. I'm guessing the effect would be too small to be noticeable.
Colin
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2023-05-28T07:28:00.743Z
@JamesK Would the effect be measurable in practice.
Colin
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2023-05-28T07:33:51.357Z
@antlersoft The answer you refer to explains why events outside the observable universe can't be detected - that's not my question. I'm asking whether the gravity of objects entering the observable universe would be detectable, when their electromagnetic radiation would be visible.
Colin
<gravity><observable-universe>
Can the gravity of objects entering the observable universe be detected?
Colin
# Can the gravity of objects entering the observable universe be detected?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2023-05-25)

As time passes, we will be able to see objects that are further away, as their light eventually reaches us. Since gravity also travels at the speed of light, would we be able to detect when a super heavy object came within the visible universe?

**Tags:** gravity, observable-universe

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Are you asking "in theory" or "in practice"?  
> **username_2**: It depends on *how superheavy it is* and what "detect" means. If it's an experimental apparatus that measures gravity, I don't think we routinely measure anything besides the Sun and Moon, and those can be measured with relatively simple equipment (probably at a few locations on Earth) and careful analysis, or just watching the tides go in and out. OR do you mean "detect" by it's gravitational effects on other distant astronomical objects we can observe?  
> **username_3**: Does this answer your question? [Is it "nonsense to even talk about" objects outside the observable universe not having gravitational influence on us? (finite speed of gravity)](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/44989/is-it-nonsense-to-even-talk-about-objects-outside-the-observable-universe-not)  The first answer addresses about as clearly as possible why this won't happen.  
> **username_0**: @username_2 The latter. For example, the moon would be influenced between ±1.3 seconds before or after the earth, depending on the relative direction to the object. I'm guessing the effect would be too small to be noticeable.  
> **username_0**: @JamesK Would the effect be measurable in practice.  
> **username_0**: @username_3 The answer you refer to explains why events outside the observable universe can't be detected - that's not my question. I'm asking whether the gravity of objects entering the observable universe would be detectable, when their electromagnetic radiation would be visible.  

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