At the speed of light to the Sun: about 8.3 minutes
At the speed of light (1,079,252,849 km/h) it would take about 8.3 minutes to get to the Sun – at the average distance of 149,600,000 km, non-stop and in a straight line.
Because the distance keeps changing, the travel time ranges from 8.2 minutes (closest) to 8.5 minutes (farthest).
For comparison
When you look at the Sun, you see it as it was just over 8 minutes ago. If it suddenly went out, we wouldn't notice for 8 minutes.
How it is calculated
- Closest distance
- 147,100,000 km
- Average distance
- 149,600,000 km
- Farthest distance
- 152,100,000 km
- Speed
- 1,079,252,849 km/h
- Formula
- Travel time = distance ÷ speed
- Result
- 149,600,000 km ÷ 1,079,252,849 km/h ≈ 8.3 minutes
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: Sun
Earth orbits the Sun on an almost circular ellipse. It is closest in early January (perihelion, about 147 million km) and farthest in early July (aphelion, about 152 million km). The average distance of 149.6 million km is called the astronomical unit (AU) and is the yardstick of the solar system. You couldn't land anyway: the Sun has no solid surface.
→ Fact sheet: Sun