Mmastodon ScienceScience first seen 12 d ago, last 11 d ago, peak #1

Alpha Centauri: 77,000 years by today's spacecraft

Original: 🔭 Alpha Centauri is only ~4.3 light-years away — but distance is ruthless. At Voyager 1 speed, the trip would take ~77,0

Astronomy commentators are noting that Alpha Centauri, our nearest star system at about 4.3 light-years away, remains effectively unreachable with current technology. At Voyager 1's speed, a journey there would take roughly 77,000 years. By comparison, a Breakthrough Starshot-style laser sail travelling at about 20% of light speed could arrive in just over two decades — if major engineering challenges can be solved.

Why now: Interest in interstellar travel concepts like Breakthrough Starshot keeps resurfacing whenever the vast scale of interstellar distances is contrasted with current spacecraft speeds

Alpha CentauriVoyager 1Breakthrough Starshot

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• 🔭 Alpha Centauri is only ~4.3 light-years away — but distance is ruthless. At Voyager 1 speed, the trip would take ~77,000 years. A Starshot-style laser sail at ~20% of light speed could reach the system in just over 20 years — if we solve the engineering. https://www.… · nexthorizon · 22

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