regarding universe/space/light/stars
2007-07-20 02:43:03 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
unit of distance in astronomy: a unit of distance in astronomy equal to the distance that light travels in a vacuum in one mean solar year, approximately 9.46 trillion km/5.88 trillion mi
2007-07-20 02:46:08 · answer #1 · answered by Michael 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Light travels at 186,000 miles per second/300,000 kilometres per second and, as far as we know, that is the universal speed limit. Nothing can travel faster than light.
A light year is the distance that light can travel in a year . Off the top of my head, the sum (and maths isn't my strongest point) would look a bit like this .....
186,000 (miles) x 60 x 60 x 24 x 365.
If you can work that out ... I don't have a big enough calculator .... that's how far a light year is.
By comparison, the sun is eight light minutes from Earth and it is 93 million miles away.
2007-07-21 07:13:05 · answer #2 · answered by elflaeda 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We could also define 'light car years' which could be the distance your car's headlight could travel at 60?mph in a year without stopping for gas, etc. Light years is just a convenient measure of the distance to stars (that we see only by their light anyway). The distance in light years is a much smaller number than the distance in miles, etc. But of course a light year may be converted to miles if useful. A star 8 light years away is twice as far as one 4 light years away. A galaxy one billion light rears away is really far away. Therefore, light years are usually used to compare distances (we can't drive there in any case).
2007-07-20 03:19:47 · answer #3 · answered by Kes 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Light years is an astronomical reference to a great distance in space. If you travel at 186,000 miles per second, then times that by one year. The term "light years" refers to an unmeasurable distance across space, say for instance, the furthest Galaxy!.
In another, down to Earth sense, it could also refer to something like, 'social order', being light years away. Or another example could be Bolton Wanderers are light years away from winning the Premiership.
2007-07-20 03:17:30 · answer #4 · answered by Old Man of Coniston!. 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A light year is the distance light covers in one year. In one year light travels 5869713600000 miles. So if a star is 5869713600000 miles away, it means that it is 1 light year away. It is easier for scientists to measure large distances in light years
2007-07-21 05:52:25 · answer #5 · answered by CARL W 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The distance light travels in a year.
2007-07-20 03:53:59 · answer #6 · answered by Jonathen B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Light years refers to the distance light travels in one year. An example of light speed is the fact that our sun is 93 000 000 miles away. Light travels at 186 000 miles per second. The sunshine you see now is like looking at history--8 minutes ago.
2007-07-20 02:51:47 · answer #7 · answered by Kilty 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is used as a distance measure (how far light can travel in one year) in the vast distances of space. Because, as hard as it is to imagine the 186,000 miles per second light travels, it is even harder to imagine the trillions and quadrillions of miles apart the galaxies are from each other.
2007-07-20 02:47:52 · answer #8 · answered by Joan H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Light year is the measurment of distance, not time. It is the distance that light travels in one year.
2007-07-20 02:49:51 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To quote Steve Martin in the film Roxanne "Its the same as a regular year, just less calories".
A light year is both a measure of distance and of time.
Distance: 5,880,000,000,000 miles
Time: How an object appeared "X" number of years ago (if the object is 20 lightyears away, that how it looked 20 years ago)
2007-07-20 03:26:18 · answer #10 · answered by ngc7331 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is the distance it takes light to travel in a year.
2007-07-20 03:02:02 · answer #11 · answered by Chaya Ahuvah 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋