So let's say we hopped in a brand new 2010 Camaro and drove to another planet. How long would it take us? Below is the approximate amount of time it would take to drive from Earth to each planet at a comfortable 75 MPH. Non stop of course, so you better hit the bathroom before you leave.
Earth to the Moon = 221,331 miles / 75 mph = Almost 123 Days
Earth to Venus = 25 million miles / 75 mph = Just over 38 Years
Earth to Mars = 33.9 million miles / 75 mph = Just over 51.5 Years
Earth to Mercury = 48 million miles / 75 mph = Just over 73 Years
Earth to Jupiter = 365 million miles / 75 mph = Just over 555.5 Years
Earth to Saturn= 739.68 million miles / 75 mph = Just over 1,125.8 Years
Earth to Uranus= 1.6 Billion miles / 75 mph = Just over 2,435 Years
Earth to Neptune = 2.68 Billion miles / 75 mph = Just over 4,079 Years
As you can see, to drive the distance might be a little longer than any of us want to spend on the road. Even if it is in space and in a Camaro. But what about if we took an American Space Shuttle? The space shuttle orbits the Earth at about 17,500 mph.
Earth to the Moon = 221,331 miles / 17,500 mph = Just over 12.6 Hours
Earth to Venus = 25 million miles / 17,500 mph = Almost 2 Months (59.52 Days)
Earth to Mars = 33.9 million miles / 17,500 mph = Just over 2.5 months (80.71 Days)
Earth to Mercury = 48 million miles / 17,500 mph = Almost 4 months (114.3 Days)
Earth to Jupiter = 365 million miles / 17,500 mph = Almost 2 Years and 5 months
Earth to Saturn= 739.68 million miles / 17,500 mph = Almost 4 Years and 10 months
Earth to Uranus= 1.6 Billion miles / 17,500 mph = Almost 10.5 Years
Earth to Neptune = 2.68 Billion miles / 17,500 mph = Almost 17.5 Years
Still too long of a trip? Cant get enough vacation time? So what if we had a space ship from a good movie that travels at the speed of light? Light travels at the speed of 186,282 Miles per Second. Or 670,615,200 MPH.
Earth to the Moon = 221,331 miles / 17,500 mph = About 1.19 Seconds
Earth to Venus = 25 million miles / 17,500 mph = About 2 minutes, 14 seconds
Earth to Mars = 33.9 million miles / 17,500 mph = About 3 minutes, 2 seconds
Earth to Mercury = 48 million miles / 17,500 mph = About 4 minutes, 18 seconds
Earth to Jupiter = 365 million miles / 17,500 mph = About 32 minutes, 39 seconds
Earth to Saturn= 739.68 million miles / 17,500 mph = About 1 Hour, 6 minutes, 11 seconds
Earth to Uranus= 1.6 Billion miles / 17,500 mph = About 2 Hours, 23 minutes, 9 seconds
Earth to Neptune = 2.68 Billion miles / 17,500 mph = About 3 Hours, 59 minutes, 47 seconds
So just imagine that. If you pointed a flash light at Neptune and turned it on. That first ray of light would take almost a full 4 hours to reach Neptune.
