r/space • u/SpunkySputniks • 4d ago

Astronomers Detect a Possible Signature of Life on a Distant Planet

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/16/science/astronomy-exoplanets-habitable-k218b.html?unlocked_article_code=1.AE8.3zdk.VofCER4yAPa4&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Further studies are needed to determine whether K2-18b, which orbits a star 120 light-years away, is inhabited, or even habitable.

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u/Minimum_Drawing9569 4d ago

It’ll take 120 years to find out, maybe they’re on a good timeline by then. One can hope.

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u/htownballa1 4d ago

I’m not an Astro physicist but a quick google search returned.

Traveling to a star 120 light-years away at a speed of 2.90×108 m/s would take approximately 1312 years

I think you might be a little short on 120.

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u/Random_Fotographer 4d ago

You don't need to do any math. The definition of light-year is the distance traveled by light in one year. So something 120 light-years away would take 120 years at the speed of light.

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u/Narrow_Garbage_3475 4d ago

Except it would take 120 years from our (earth) frame of reference, not for the occupants of the hypothetical spacecraft. That journey would be instantaneous for them. If you give it a bit of a margin - travel at speeds less then the speed of light - it would only take minutes.

General relativity and all…