How long does it take for light from stars to get with in range of the earth so we are able to view them?

Question

I have heard that it takes roughly 14years maybe more maybe less for that light to be within the range of earth for humans to be able to see it.

Answer 1

Some good answers above, but nobody got the nearest star distance correct. Alpha Centauri is 4.3 ligh years. It has a tiny companion star that comes atiny bit closer during its orbit around the parent, making Proxima Centauri the nearest at 4.2 light years.

For a perspective: most of the stars you see with the naked eye are within 1000 light years. The MilkyWay galaxy extends 100,000 light years, but the vast majority of its 100 billion stars are only visible as a misty cloud seen crossing the sky on a dark night.

Yes, as said above, you do not see ligh approaching. The photons of light have to be hitting the retina at the back of your eyes, from where the brain interprets it into images.

Answer 2

Well, time of travel depends on speed and distance, so if light moves 12,000,000 miles a minute, that's 898 billion miles a year, or 1 Light Year, so if the nearest star is 449,280,000,000 miles away, then it will take 1/2 a light year for the light to get here, and you can't see it until it hits your eye, so your 'in range' question isn't accurate. You can't see light coming, you can only see it when it's already here.

Of course, with the exception of the Sun, no star is even remotely that close to us, so all the stars you see are in the past, and we don't know where they are now.

Trippy, huh?

Answer 3

In October 2008, contributors of the networking internet site Bebo beamed A Message From Earth, a severe-capability transmission at Gliese 581 c, making use of the RT-70 radio telescope belonging to the national area organization of Ukraine. This transmission is via reach interior the Gliese 581 device's area via the year 2029; the earliest achieveable arrival for a reaction, would desire to there be one, could be in 2049. So we are able to be conscious of then.

Answer 4

Depends on the distance of the star from the earth. Our own Star's light (the sun) takes about 8 minutes to reach us; the nearest after this takes about 6 (light) years i believe.

Answer 5

It depends on how far away the star is. If it's 15 light-years away, it'll take 15 years. If 20,000 light-years away, it'll take 20,000 years

Answer 6

i just want points