Sorry Mr. Doty, but a light-year is a measure of distance. As you stated, “It’s how far light travels in a year. ” Specifically, one light-year is 5.88 trillion miles (9.46 trillion km for our metric aficionados).
Read the definition from Dictionary.com here: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/light+year
Light year measures time. If something is 4 light years away, it’ll take 4 years traveling at the speed of light to reach it. For distance, you have to convert light years into miles. Though, of course, scientists measure distance in terms of years. How many years away it is at the speed of light. Much easier than using miles.
So according to Joe it is around 1 sextillion miles away (I’m ignoring the 880 Billion miles in the math). Though the proper answer would be, when will it happen? 1 Million years from now (being 1 Million Light Years away.)
Wrong, mrprong – time is the independent variable, distance light travels (in that time) is the dependent. We say a star is X light years away, not X light years ago!
A light year does not measure time. A YEAR measures time. A light year measures the DISTANCE anything (including light) will travel at the speed of light.
lewisbower almost 15 years ago
JOE Since when are light years a measure of time?
COWBOY7 almost 15 years ago
Good point!
Yukoneric almost 15 years ago
Sounds heavy to me.
Ed in Toledo Premium Member almost 15 years ago
Sorry Mr. Doty, but a light-year is a measure of distance. As you stated, “It’s how far light travels in a year. ” Specifically, one light-year is 5.88 trillion miles (9.46 trillion km for our metric aficionados).
Read the definition from Dictionary.com here: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/light+year
mrprongs almost 15 years ago
Light year measures time. If something is 4 light years away, it’ll take 4 years traveling at the speed of light to reach it. For distance, you have to convert light years into miles. Though, of course, scientists measure distance in terms of years. How many years away it is at the speed of light. Much easier than using miles.
So according to Joe it is around 1 sextillion miles away (I’m ignoring the 880 Billion miles in the math). Though the proper answer would be, when will it happen? 1 Million years from now (being 1 Million Light Years away.)
JP Steve Premium Member almost 15 years ago
Wrong, mrprong – time is the independent variable, distance light travels (in that time) is the dependent. We say a star is X light years away, not X light years ago!
MisngNOLA almost 15 years ago
A light year does not measure time. A YEAR measures time. A light year measures the DISTANCE anything (including light) will travel at the speed of light.