Length Contraction & Relativistic Aberration: Is 1 Formula Enough?

[Kevin Willis]

I have been coding a speed of light simulator and I am having a bit of trouble with a few aspects of the project. My first question is:

Are the length contraction and relativistic aberration formulas BOTH needed in my calculations or does the relativistic aberration formula already account for the length contraction?​

 

[PAllen]

You need to clarify what you are trying to calculate. The aberration formula is a self contained consequence of the Lorentz transform for angles of 'light rays'. If all you are interested is computing an image in one frame given that in another, this is all you need.

 

[harrylin]

I have been coding a speed of light simulator and I am having a bit of trouble with a few aspects of the project. My first question is:

Are the length contraction and relativistic aberration formulas BOTH needed in my calculations or does the relativistic aberration formula already account for the length contraction?​

The effect of length contraction is of course included in the relativistic aberration formula. Nevertheless, as PAllen said, it may be useful to specify what case you simulate.