Binocular Observation of Moving Objects

Abstract

In recent years a number of papers have considered the appearance of objects moving at relativistic speeds as seen by a single observer. This paper explores the stereoscopic effects of using a pair of eyes or observing instruments, assuming that the light rays from the object arrive simultaneously at the two eyes and that the instantaneous apparent position of a point object is the intersection of the lines of sight of the two eyes. Contrary to what is true for objects at rest, stereoscopic observation of moving objects does not determine correctly either their shape or position.