How long does it take for light to reach us from the stars?
How Long Does It Take For Starlight To Reach Us
The time it takes for light to reach us from stars varies greatly depending on their distance from Earth. Here are a few examples:
Proxima Centauri, the closest star, is about 4.24 light-years away, so light from it takes about 4.24 years to reach us.
Sirius, the brightest star in our night sky, is about 8.6 light-years away, meaning its light takes about 8.6 years to arrive.
For stars in the Andromeda Galaxy, which is around 2.5 million light-years away, the light we see today left those stars 2.5 million years ago.
In general, because space is so vast, many stars we observe are millions or even billions of light-years away, so their light can take a very long time to reach us!
– Written By Amrapali Niungare
Light from stars takes varying amounts of time to reach us, depending on their distance. For example, light from the Sun takes about 8 minutes to reach Earth. Nearby stars, like Proxima Centauri, take about 4.24 years, while light from distant galaxies can take millions or even billions of years to arrive. So, when we look at stars, we’re seeing them as they were in the past!
– Written By Elvira Ikotin-Lajter
