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Could I be observing something travelling faster than light?

Asked by AstroChuck (37609points) May 12th, 2008 from iPhone

Okay. I’m hoping that all of you physicists (amatuer and otherwise) can answer this.
Now I know that if I’m on a spacecraft travelling @ 3/4 the speed of light and I launch a smaller craft in the same direction I’m going at lightspeed, even though simple math would dictate that to an outside observer the small craft should appear to move at 1 1/2 times lightspeed, Einstein’s special theory of relativity shows that this is not the case. Even if that craft launched an even smaller craft, and that craft launched one, and so on… None of these ships would ever obtain C velocity.
But…suppose, as I’m travelling at 75% lightspeed another craft travelling at the same velociity passes me heading in the opposite direction. What would I observe. Could it be possible that from my perspective the passing craft would be travelling faster than light? And because of my velocity shouldn’t I view the craft (and everything else outside) as moving even quicker? How could this be possible? Would the fabric of space/time open up and belch out some bluish fourth dimensional goo at me? I know some of you geniuses out there must have an answer.

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