Our Nearest Exoplanet: How Long Is the Trip?

Research topic and question

• Our Nearest Exoplanet: How Long Is the Trip?

How long would it take to reach the nearest confirmed exoplanet at 17 km/s, 1%, 10% and 90% of light speed? Download the latest distance data from the NASA Exoplanet Archive using https://exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu/docs/TAP/usingTAP.html. Compare the time on Earth with the time experienced onboard, and explain what these hypothetical journeys leave out.

Research findings

The analysis identifies Proxima Cen b and d at 1.30119000 pc. Central travel-time calculations at 17 km/s, 1%, 10% and 90% of light speed match the reported values. Uncertainty differences are negligible: the maximum absolute difference is (7.78\times10^{-12}) years and the maximum relative difference is (1.48\times10^{-12}).