By plane to Proxima Centauri: about 5.1 million years
By plane (900 km/h) it would take about 5.1 million years to get to Proxima Centauri – at a distance of 40.2 trillion km, non-stop and in a straight line.
For comparison
That is about as long ago as the human and chimpanzee lineages split (roughly 5 to 7 million years ago).
How it is calculated
- Distance
- 40.2 trillion km (4.25 ly)
- Speed
- 900 km/h
- Formula
- Travel time = distance ÷ speed
- Result
- 40.2 trillion km ÷ 900 km/h ≈ 5.1 million years
Assumption: constant speed in a straight line, with no stops, acceleration or braking. Real spacecraft fly curved paths and use the gravity of planets.
Good to know: Proxima Centauri
Proxima Centauri is a small red dwarf and the nearest star to the Sun – 4.25 light-years away and part of the Alpha Centauri triple system. It is too faint to see with the naked eye. At least one planet, Proxima b, orbits it in the habitable zone.
Proxima Centauri: travel time by every vehicle
| Vehicle | Speed | Travel time |
|---|---|---|
| Car | 100 km/h | 46 million years |
| Airplane | 900 km/h | 5.1 million years |
| Rocket | 61,000 km/h | 75,000 years |
| Speed of light | 1,079,252,849 km/h | 4.2 years |