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We see objects with our eyes as object emits/reflects light. Say if we travel at almost the speed of light can we see the objects normally?

Qmechanic
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SaravInfern
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1 Answers1

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Not through our normal sight.

First of all, doppler shift will totally change the color of everything, objects ahead of us shifting towards blue/ultraviolet, and these left behind becoming more red/infrared. Then, Lorenz Contraction combined with changed time and distance it takes light reflected off objects (and separately, emitted by objects) to reach our eyesight, the image will be severely distorted.

If you want to experience the kind of distortions we'd encounter, you can download the free game A Slower Speed Of Light which explores the idea.

screenshot depicting shifted colors screenshot depicting the distortions

Of course, the right software knowing the speed of the ship, the direction and the distorted image from the outside, would be able to "unscramble" it into what we see normally.

That's all for speeds approaching speed of light. Now if we somehow found a way to travel at speed of light without breaking the laws of the universe (e.g. our ship having infinite kinetic energy), then nope, some information would be lost, and not even the best software would be able to regenerate it.

SF.
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