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A light year is a distance measurement because it would take something a year travelling at the speed of light to cross. It is called a light year because it helps astrologers/scientists understand the vastness of the distance between two things; for example, Our Galaxy (The Milky Way Galaxy) and our nearest Galaxy (Andromeda Galaxy)

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Q: Why is a light year a unit of distance rather than time?
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Is a cubic light year a cube of time?

No. A light year is a measure of distance, not time; it is the distance that light travels in a year. So a cubic light year is a measure of volume, rather like a cubic foot or cubic meeter only much larger.


Which planet has the shorter travel time in light years Jupiter or venus?

To start off, a light year is not a unit of time, it is a unit of distance; it is the distance that light travels in a year. Jupiter has a longer orbit than Venus, regardless of what unit of time you use.


How many Earth years equals .2 light years?

Light-years are not a measure of time. Light-years are a measure of distance, the distance that light travels in a year. This measurement is used to measure the distance between stellar objects like galaxies, stars, and sometimes planets.


20.5 light-years is equal to how many earth years?

A Light-Year is a measure of DISTANCE, not TIME. A light-year is how far light can travel in one year. Light travels at 186,000 miles per second, or a little faster than 11 million miles per minute. In metric terms, the speed of light is a tad less than 300,000 km/sec. 1 light year is approximately 5.9 trillion miles, 20.5 light years would therefore be 20.5 times 5.9 trillion miles or about 120 trillion miles. traveling at 100,000 mph it would take about 137,000 years to travel the distance.


How many months are there in a light year?

A light year is a measure of distance. A light year is about 9,460,000,000,000 km, the distance light travels in a vacuum in one Earth year. It has nothing to do with weeks, months, days, etc. or any other of our calendar measurements of time.

Related questions

Is a cubic light year a cube of time?

No. A light year is a measure of distance, not time; it is the distance that light travels in a year. So a cubic light year is a measure of volume, rather like a cubic foot or cubic meeter only much larger.


Why is light measured in distance and not in time?

-- The distance that light travels in some amount of time is expressed in units of distance. -- The time that it takes light to cover some amount of distance is expressed in units of time. -- The speed of light is expressed in units of speed . . . distance/time


Which planet has the shorter travel time in light years Jupiter or venus?

To start off, a light year is not a unit of time, it is a unit of distance; it is the distance that light travels in a year. Jupiter has a longer orbit than Venus, regardless of what unit of time you use.


Why you cannot travel faster than light?

Because when moving at the speed of light, time stops for you and you can no longer measure speed (distance covered in a certain time).


What is a good distance to walk for a workout?

Think in time rather than distance, and aim for one hour. For me that'd be about 4 miles - your result may vary.


Why do you see objects in space older than they really are?

You don't see the objects themselves, but rather the light that has reflected off of them. That reflection travels toward us at the speed of light, and with enough distance we will see the object as older due to the amount of time it takes for the reflected light to reach us.


How long is 123.23 light years in days?

The 'light year' is the distance that light travels in a year's time. Since it's a unit of distance and not a unit of time, it can't be converted into a number of days, any more than you can tell me how many inches old you are.


What year would it be 95 light years from 1999?

It doesn't make sense to add a distance to a time. A light-year is a unit of distance, not of time. It is the distance light travels in a year.


Does a light year tell time or distance?

A light year is a measure of distance. It is the distance light travels through the vacuum of space in one year's time. This is about 5.86 trillion miles.


How many Earth years equals .2 light years?

Light-years are not a measure of time. Light-years are a measure of distance, the distance that light travels in a year. This measurement is used to measure the distance between stellar objects like galaxies, stars, and sometimes planets.


What is a postion-time graph?

It is a graph with distance on one axis and time on the other. The distance is measured on graphed on "how far you currently are from a certain starting point", rather than "how fast you are travelling", or something similar...


How many second in a light year?

A light year is a measure of distance, not time. A light year is the distance that light will travel in one year. One light second is 186,000 miles. A light year is a measure of distance, not time. A light year is the distance that light will travel in one year. One light second is 186,000 miles.