
Light-year - Wikipedia
A light-year, alternatively spelled light year (ly or lyr[3]), is a unit of length used to express astronomical distances and is equal to exactly 9 460 730 472 580.8 km, which is …
What Is a Light-Year? | NASA Space Place – NASA Science for Kids
Sep 25, 2025 · A light-year is the distance light travels in one Earth year. Learn about how we use light-years to measure the distance of objects in space.
What Is a Light Year? Definition and Examples
May 28, 2020 · The light year or light-year (ly) is a unit of length that is the distance light travels in a vacuum in one Earth year. One light year is exactly 9460730472580.8 km (approximately …
How Many Years in a Light Year? Time vs. Distance - CityAstronomy
Dec 16, 2024 · A light year is a measure of distance equivalent to how far light travels in one single Earth year. It’s a fundamental unit for expressing astronomical distances, crucial for …
Understanding Light Years: How Far Is Far in Space?
May 3, 2025 · What Is a Light Year, Really? Let’s begin with the basics. A light year is the distance that light travels in a vacuum in the span of one Earth year.
Light-year | Distance, Measurement, Time | Britannica
Oct 24, 2025 · Light-year, in astronomy, the distance traveled by light moving in a vacuum in the course of one year, at its accepted velocity of 299,792,458 metres per second (186,282 miles …
Understanding Light-Years - Universe Watcher
May 18, 2025 · A light-year measures the distance light travels in one year, approximately 9.46 trillion kilometers. Light moves at 299,792 kilometers per second, covering this vast distance in …
What is a light-year? - Cool Cosmos
A light-year (ly) is the distance that light can travel in one year. In one year, light travels about 5,880,000,000,000 miles or 9,460,000,000,000 kilometers. So, this distance is 1 light-year. For …
What is a Light Year | Astro-Observer
Oct 1, 2024 · But what exactly is a light-year, and why is it so useful for astronomers? A light year is a measure of distance similar to a mile or a kilometer. A light year is the distance that light …
LIGHT-YEAR Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
Dec 5, 2016 · The meaning of LIGHT-YEAR is a unit of length in astronomy equal to the distance that light travels in one year in a vacuum or about 5.88 trillion miles (9.46 trillion kilometers).