XPost: sci.astro.research   
   From: helbig@asclothestro.multivax.de   
      
   How well do we know the value of G?   
      
   G is the constant (well, as far as we know) of nature whose value is   
   known with the least precision.  How well do we know it?  Presumably   
   only Cavendish-type experiments can measure it directly.  Other   
   measurements of G, particularly astronomical ones, probably actually   
   measure GM, or GMm.  In some cases, those quantities might be known to   
   more precision than G itself.   
      
   Suppose G were to vary with time, or place, or (thinking of something   
   like MOND here) with the acceleration in question.  Could that be   
   detected, or would it be masked by wrong assumptions about the mass(es)   
   involved?   
      
   Just as an example, would a smaller value of G and correspondingly   
   higher masses be compatible with LIGO observations?   
      
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