relativity of simultaneity - real or perceived?

Does 'relativity of simultaneity' mean that an event which is
simultaneous in one frame of reference, need not be simultaneous in
another frame? Or do the two frames just APPEAR to have a different
timing of events?

In the common example of a fast train struck by lightning at both ends,
simultaneously from the point of view of the embankment, and an
observer on the train sees the lightning at different times, is that
not merely a result of his *perception* of the events? If he were a
scientist, could he not calculate the time taken for the light to
travel and realise that the lightning did indeed strike at the same
time?

If two photons pass opposite ends of a box at the same time as measured
by an observer at rest wrt to the box, could they ever be correctly
calculated to be in the same positions at some point in time to any
observer at any speed? Or would they be correctly calculated to pass
the ends of the box at different times by that other observer?

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Query about simultaneous events..
    ... >>places A and B, where the lightning occurs, meet each other at the ... >>hastening towards the beam of light coming from B, ... observer in the train doesn't see the flashes simultaneously. ... I suppose that you assume absolute simultaneity (i.e. ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)
  • Re: What is LET?
    ... to define absolute simultaneity, I'll point out the observable differences. ... interpretation of the Lorentz transform, events that are simultaneous wrt an observer in K are indeed also simultaneous wrt an observer in K', despite what Tom Roberts seemed to imply. ... Wrt an observation made in K' (using measuring instruments that have not been intentionally tampered with since their calibration while at rest in K) the events aren't simultaneous, yet wrt an observer in K' (a person who believes that K is the master frame) they are simultaneous. ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)
  • Re: Query about simultaneous events..
    ... >>places A and B, where the lightning occurs, meet each other at the ... > What I do not understand, is that when the lightning strikes point A, ... > Now, according to what has already been said, relative to the observer ... concept of relativity of simultaneity. ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)
  • Re: Einsteins example of simultaneity
    ... > observer on the embankment but not to the observer on the ... > frame and so being simultaneous in some absolute sense. ... > simultaneity of the events is something that can only be observed and ... > Now set the devices as before, but placed on the train with the ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)
  • Re: IRT: A New Theory of Relativity
    ... >ruler at the rest frame of the ether has the shortest light path length. ... own clocks, ... about simultaneity as you suggested below, then in frames other than the ... but in SR each observer defines his time-coordinates in terms of the ...
    (sci.physics)