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Originally Posted by g__day
No.
My frame of reference for this kinda cute example is just considering a Sun / Earth system; as all else for the purposes of this discussion is padding (its a irrelevant relative motion as there is no absolute set of spacial co-ordinates according to relativity).
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G'Day g_day,
uh... I think you just answered your own question...
If there is no preferencial reference frame then the earth rotates around the sun. Period. Regardless of the motion of the Sun-Earth system through space the gravitational force between the two follows the same flux lines as the light from the sun to earth and as reflected from the earth to the sun. In the reference frame of the earth or the reference frame of the sun, these are the same path each way.
To an observer in a reference frame in uniform motion to the sun earth system, the light paths will differ. for example light passing from the sun to the earth and being reflected back will describe a saw tooth shape or "V" path... the same shape is made by a "gravity wave" or graviton (depending on the flavour gravitational theory you prefer today) leaving the sun to travel to the earth, but since gravity isn't reflected (is it?) we have to use the arrival of the first gravity wave or graviton from the sun as a trigger for a return one from the earth to the sun. This is a bit of a mental fabrication as gravity acts continuously
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All very hypothetical I think, because I'm not aware that the elusive "graviton" has been detected, nor have gravity waves???
Feel free to correct me anyone! As far as I know the actual mechanism of gravitational attraction hasn't been resolved yet, which is why there are different models from particle theory, string/brane theory and space time curvature...
Interesting little puzzle... Food for thought!
Al.