Why does going close to the speed of light make almost everything look like it's directly ahead of you? I understand why there's SOME shift in the direction that the light appears to come from, by I can't understand why an object that would appear at 90 degrees relative to your motion when you are going slowly would appear less then 45 degrees away from directly ahead when you are moving close to the speed of light.
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$\begingroup$ Where did you hear/read that? $\endgroup$– GertCommented Dec 11, 2021 at 18:00
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1$\begingroup$ See the discussion in section 1.3 of this for description in Minkowski space-time, and section 8.2 of this (for curved space-time) $\endgroup$– KP99Commented Dec 11, 2021 at 18:04
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$\begingroup$ Are you referring to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrell_rotation ? See spacetimetravel.org/ueberblick/ueberblick1.html and spacetimetravel.org/bewegung/bewegung.html $\endgroup$– robphyCommented Dec 11, 2021 at 18:44
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2$\begingroup$ aberration of light - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberration_%28astronomy%29 $\endgroup$– m4r35n357Commented Dec 11, 2021 at 22:02
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2 Answers
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Slowly moving person says: "the light that I see now left the object some time ago, the object was then to the right side of me. That's why I see the object at this particular direction".
Fast moving person says: "the light that I see now left the object quite long time ago, the object was then quite far ahead of me. That's why I see the object at this particular direction".
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If I understand your question correctly you are referring to relativistic length contraction. As you nearing the speed of light $c$, all the scenery in front of you is also travelling relativistically at speed $c$ towards you.
This will trigger the relativistic effect of length contraction where all objects you see will be contracted in size towards the direction of travel consequently giving you a tunnel effect vision of the scenery ahead of you.
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$\begingroup$ Length contraction says that "all objects you see" will be contracted in size behind you as well, and that does not happen! Technically, you need to use two spatial dimensions to describe what you see. Details here: mathpages.com/rr/s2-05/2-05.htm $\endgroup$ Commented Dec 13, 2021 at 9:51