Gravitational light deflection in the Solar System

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Abstract
The problems of defining the bending of a light path in general stationary space-times are discussed. It is shown how in situations of axial symmetry the use of ‘triangulation lines’ (Cowling 1983) leads to a coordinate invariant definition of the bending angle between arbitrary points on a light path. An exact expression is derived for the bending angle in a static, spherically symmetric space-time of arbitrarily strong curvature. This formulation is used to calculate, to second PPN order, the apparent positional shift which is measured when observing, for example, an asteroid or a spacecraft situated close to superior conjunction with the Sun. The possibilities of measuring light deflection effects using modern observational facilities are considered.

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