How Long Would It Take to Reach the Nearest Star and Galaxy with Our Current Technology?
What is the estimated time to reach the nearest star and galaxy with the speed of the Parker solar probe?
If we built a space ship that traveled at the same speed as the Parker solar probe, how long would it take to reach the nearest star and galaxy?
Estimated Time to Reach Nearest Star and Galaxy
With the speed of the Parker solar probe, it would take about 6,700 years to reach the nearest star, Proxima Centauri, and approximately 3.6 billion years to reach the nearest galaxy, Andromeda.
Reaching the nearest star, Proxima Centauri, which is about 4.24 light years away, would take approximately 6,700 years with a spacecraft traveling at the speed of the Parker solar probe. As for the nearest galaxy, Andromeda, which is approximately 2.537 million light years away, it would take around 3.6 billion years to reach it with the same speed.
Currently, it is not feasible to send humans to other stars or galaxies with our existing technology. The long travel times, along with technical challenges such as human lifespan, food, energy supply, and protection from cosmic radiations, make it a significant hurdle to overcome.