[ETL]

No, because it would take that long for the field to collapse. Both propagation and collapse are at the speed of light.

So in an existing gravitational field, the 'bond' between objects is instantaneous? Wouldn't this be apparent, one way or the other, in galaxies where stars orbit a hundred or more thousand light-years from the center? Or do galaxies behave as if they were a rigid solid object?

[LeGrande]

So in an existing gravitational field, the 'bond' between objects is instantaneous? Wouldn't this be apparent, one way or the other, in galaxies where stars orbit a hundred or more thousand light-years from the center? Or do galaxies behave as if they were a rigid solid object?>

You are thinking about it wrong : ) Gravity is a force that curves space. That curved space is the field. Objects simply follow the shortest route. The 'tighter' the curvature the higher the gravity.

Nothing is a rigid solid object. Everything is Electromagnetic waves of nothing : )