Light time introduces the concept of length associated with the distance traveled by the light itself over a period of time
In particular, the light year is a unit of length measurement, defined as the distance traveled by electromagnetic radiation (with the term light referring to the spectral portion visible from the human eye) in the vacuum, in a sidereal year (365 Days, 6 hours, 9 minutes, and 10 seconds).
The speed of light (c) in the void is 299 792,458 (km/s). To have that distance in miles, just multiply that value over the time range considered. Approximately 9461 billion kilometers (or 63 241 times the distance between Earth and the Sun, also called astronomical units, is 149 597 870,700 km).
The light year, like parsec (about 3.26 light years), is mainly used for galactic distances. Below are the distances between the Sun and the planets belonging to the Solar System in light time.
- Mercury : 3,3 light minutes
- Venus : 6 light minutes
- Earth : 8,3 light minutes
- Mars : 12,7 light minutes
- Jupiter : 43 light minutes
- Saturn : 1,3 light hours
- Uranus : 2,7 light hours
- Neptune : 4,2 light hours
Pluto, the dwarf planet, is at 5.3 light hours from us. You must travel a distance of one light year to get out of the Solar System; While you should travel at the speed of light for just over 4 years before encountering another star, Proxima Centauri.
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