From: patdolan@comcast.net   
      
   I would like to submit this little conundrum to this group for consideration:   
      
   Consider a distant observer traveling at .867 c ( gamma=2 ) relative to   
   the solar system along the line that is collinear with the sun's axis of   
   rotation. As the clockwork solar system spins beneath him, the distant   
   observer peers through his powerful telescope at Big Ben in London. In   
   accordance with special relativity, and after taking relativistic   
   doppler into account, the distant observer measures Big Ben's little   
   hand to make one revolution for every two revolutions of his own   
   wristwatch's little hand. He also observes that Big Ben's little hand   
   still makes 730.5 revolutions for every revolution that the earth makes   
   around the sun. From these two observations the distant observer   
   concludes that in his inertial frame of reference the earth's orbital   
   velocity is only half the velocity necessary to keep the earth in stable   
   orbit around the sun.   
      
   Will the earth spiral into the sun? If not, why not?   
      
   Note: Newtonian gravity is not assumed in this paradox. Invariant   
   spacetime curvature is assumed to be the cause of the earth's orbit   
   around the sun.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)