Can photons slow down in media and be caught by a spacecraft?

[CBR600RR]

How can a photons velocity be slowed down when they pass through air, water, etc? If photons can be slowed down to slower than light speed, then would it not be possible for a "futuristic lightspeed rocket" to catch up to a photon? And also how can someone measure a slower speed (other than the speed of light) for a photon if special relativity states that all observers must measure the exact same speed of light? What am I missing?

 

[jtbell]

How can a photons velocity be slowed down when they pass through air, water, etc?

See the following posting in the Physics Forums FAQ:

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?p=899393#post899393