<p>For the very simple reason that light travels very fast, but not infinitely fast.  </p>

<p>It takes light about 1 nanosecond to travel 30cm. That is so fast that you don't normally notice it. However it does take some time for light to reach your eyes, even from just across the room. </p>

<p>Objects in space are a lot further away. It takes light about 1.2 seconds to reach the moon, and as you note it takes light 8 minutes to come from the Sun. The reason is that the sun is 150 million km away, and it takes about 8 minutes for light to go that far. </p>

<p>If light did have infinite speed, it would be a weird universe. Effects would happen at the same time as causes, so the basic nature of cause preceding effect would be broken. The "speed=frequency*wavelength" formula for light would be broken. Refraction and diffraction wouldn't exist. A photon would be emitted and absorbed at the same time. Could something that is absorbed at the same time as it is emitted actually exist? </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-01T10:48:02.620Z
In photon's field inertial frame it is emitted and absorbed at the same time, yet it plainly exists. There is no reason I am aware of to suggest that the photon's inertial frame is less 'valid' than our own!
adrianmcmenamin
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-01T18:52:21.283Z
The photon's frame of reference is moving at the speed of light. It is a highly singular frame. You can't use the photon's frame of reference to model the behaviour of matter.
James K
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-01T20:25:44.700Z
I accept that nothing with a rest mass can move at c, but my point is that the argument something that can be absorbed and emitted at the same time cannot exist is flawed.
adrianmcmenamin
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-28T08:48:54.577Z
2016-07-28T09:32:56.783Z
2016-07-28T09:32:56.783Z
James K
<p>I sense in your question that you wonder why speed of light is not infinite as many persons think it is. If the speed of light was infinite (no delay) then there would not have any refraction phenomenon and the immediate consequence is that your eye wouldn't be able to focus so you would be blind somehow.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-28T14:41:57.787Z
2016-07-28T14:41:57.787Z
Carthusianorum
<p>Why does the light of objects such as the Sun, stars etc. take time to reach us? </p>

<p>E.g. Why does sunlight take 8 minutes to reach us, instead of reaching our eyes as soon as it rises.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-28T14:45:41.633Z
You consider a light as material particles and particles can move with finite velocity only.
Free Consulting
<light>
Why does light from objects take time to reach us?
K. M.
# Why does light from objects take time to reach us?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-07-28)

Why does the light of objects such as the Sun, stars etc. take time to reach us?

E.g. Why does sunlight take 8 minutes to reach us, instead of reaching our eyes as soon as it rises.

**Tags:** light

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: You consider a light as material particles and particles can move with finite velocity only.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-07-28. Score: 3

For the very simple reason that light travels very fast, but not infinitely fast.

It takes light about 1 nanosecond to travel 30cm. That is so fast that you don't normally notice it. However it does take some time for light to reach your eyes, even from just across the room.

Objects in space are a lot further away. It takes light about 1.2 seconds to reach the moon, and as you note it takes light 8 minutes to come from the Sun. The reason is that the sun is 150 million km away, and it takes about 8 minutes for light to go that far.

If light did have infinite speed, it would be a weird universe. Effects would happen at the same time as causes, so the basic nature of cause preceding effect would be broken. The "speed=frequency\*wavelength" formula for light would be broken. Refraction and diffraction wouldn't exist. A photon would be emitted and absorbed at the same time. Could something that is absorbed at the same time as it is emitted actually exist?

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: In photon's field inertial frame it is emitted and absorbed at the same time, yet it plainly exists. There is no reason I am aware of to suggest that the photon's inertial frame is less 'valid' than our own!  
> **username_2**: The photon's frame of reference is moving at the speed of light. It is a highly singular frame. You can't use the photon's frame of reference to model the behaviour of matter.  
> **username_3**: I accept that nothing with a rest mass can move at c, but my point is that the argument something that can be absorbed and emitted at the same time cannot exist is flawed.  

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### Answer by username_4 on 2016-07-28. Score: 0

I sense in your question that you wonder why speed of light is not infinite as many persons think it is. If the speed of light was infinite (no delay) then there would not have any refraction phenomenon and the immediate consequence is that your eye wouldn't be able to focus so you would be blind somehow.


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