<h2>TL;DR: Because light doesn't travel at an infinite speed.</h2>
<p>Light travels at exactly 299,792,458 meters per second, and one AU is equal to 149,597,870,700 meters. Therefore, it takes about 500 seconds, or 8 minutes and 20 seconds, for light to travel from the Sun to Earth.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-12T17:39:25.697Z
expected to find comment saying "username checks out"
Aaron F
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2021-01-12T19:27:03.507Z
I often see comments saying that, pointing out a relation between the username of the person and the text they wrote. Your username is closely related to your answer. Google for `site:stackexchange.com "username checks out"` to see more :-)
Aaron F
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-11T22:23:58.543Z
2021-01-11T22:23:58.543Z
WarpPrime
<p>If it only takes 8 minutes for that light to reach the Earth, what took up most of all that time to get to the Earth?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-11T21:18:11.817Z
Unclear what you're asking. If it takes you 8 minutes to drive from your house to the store, those 8 minutes are spent... driving from your house to the store. You don't teleport there instantly and sit outside in your car for 8 minutes before going in or something like that.
Nuclear Hoagie
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2021-01-11T22:27:37.673Z
@NuclearHoagie On the other side, if I am a tiny li'l photon, there would be no time, so able to teleport instantly (my reference frame). Best.
hki
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-11T22:39:19.470Z
@iter, if you're a photon you don't have a reference frame.  (Also you don't have an internet connection ;-)
James K
<the-sun><earth><light><time><astronomical-unit>
If it only takes 8 minutes for that light to reach the Earth, what took up most of the time?
Twyla
# If it only takes 8 minutes for that light to reach the Earth, what took up most of the time?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-01-11)

If it only takes 8 minutes for that light to reach the Earth, what took up most of all that time to get to the Earth?

**Tags:** the-sun, earth, light, time, astronomical-unit

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Unclear what you're asking. If it takes you 8 minutes to drive from your house to the store, those 8 minutes are spent... driving from your house to the store. You don't teleport there instantly and sit outside in your car for 8 minutes before going in or something like that.  
> **username_2**: @NuclearHoagie On the other side, if I am a tiny li'l photon, there would be no time, so able to teleport instantly (my reference frame). Best.  
> **username_3**: @iter, if you're a photon you don't have a reference frame.  (Also you don't have an internet connection ;-)  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2021-01-11. Score: 5

## TL;DR: Because light doesn't travel at an infinite speed.

Light travels at exactly 299,792,458 meters per second, and one AU is equal to 149,597,870,700 meters. Therefore, it takes about 500 seconds, or 8 minutes and 20 seconds, for light to travel from the Sun to Earth.

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: expected to find comment saying "username checks out"  
> **username_5**: I often see comments saying that, pointing out a relation between the username of the person and the text they wrote. Your username is closely related to your answer. Google for `site:stackexchange.com "username checks out"` to see more :-)  

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