How Long Would It Take to Travel to Epsilon Eridani?

Epsilon Eridani is an orange dwarf star 10.5 light-years away in the constellation Eridanus. It hosts at least one confirmed exoplanet and has a spectacular debris disk similar to our asteroid belt.

Distance 10.5 light-years
Star Type Orange dwarf (K2V)
Constellation Eridanus
Apparent Magnitude 3.73

Time Dilation Formula Calculator

Spacecraft accelerates continuously throughout the journey. Realistic for ion drives or theoretical propulsion.

Distance to Epsilon Eridani
Speed vs Time
This chart shows how quickly you accelerate to a fraction of the speed of light over time.
Distance vs Time
Shows distance covered (in light-years) over time.
Traveler's vs Observer's Time
Shows how time experienced by the traveler differs from time on Earth.
Energy Requirement vs Distance
Shows the (simplified) energy requirements for maintaining relativistic travel as distance increases.
Doppler Shift vs Time
Shows how the Doppler effect changes observed wavelengths over time.
Velocity vs Distance
Shows how your speed changes as you travel further from your starting point.
Lorentz Factor vs Time
Shows how the Lorentz factor (γ) grows over time as relativistic effects increase.
Proper vs Observer Distance
Shows how distance measurements differ between the traveler's frame and the observer's frame.

Facts About Epsilon Eridani

Notable For: One of the nearest stars with confirmed exoplanets and debris disk

Frequently Asked Questions

How long to travel to Epsilon Eridani?

At light speed, it would take 10.5 years to reach Epsilon Eridani. At 1g constant acceleration with deceleration, a traveler would experience about 6.7 years.

Does Epsilon Eridani have planets?

Yes, Epsilon Eridani has at least one confirmed exoplanet (Epsilon Eridani b) and likely more. It also has a debris disk that suggests ongoing planetary formation or asteroid belt activity.

Explore Similar Destinations

82 Eridani 19.76 light-years Ross 248 10.3 light-years Lacaille 9352 10.74 light-years Ross 128 11.01 light-years

How to Use This Calculator

This time dilation calculator lets you enter a distance in light-years and acceleration in m/s² to see how time dilation affects your journey. It shows differences between traveler and observer times, maximum velocity, energy requirements, Doppler shift, Lorentz factor, and how distances vary between reference frames. Charts appear after you calculate.

Results

  • Traveler's Time: How much time the person on the spaceship experiences
  • Observer's Time: How much time passes on Earth during the journey
  • Maximum Velocity: The highest speed reached, as a fraction of light speed

Interactive Charts

  • Speed vs Time: How quickly you accelerate towards light speed
  • Distance vs Time: How far you've traveled over time
  • Traveler's vs Observer's Time: Compare time passage between Earth and spaceship
  • Energy Requirement vs Distance: How much energy is needed as you travel further
  • Doppler Shift vs Time: How light wavelengths change during your journey
  • Velocity vs Distance: Your speed at different distances
  • Lorentz Factor vs Time: How much time dilation increases with speed
  • Proper vs Observer Distance: How distance measurements differ between frames

What is Time Dilation?

Time dilation is an effect from Einstein's theory of special relativity. The faster you move, the slower time passes for you compared to someone standing still. At 90% of light speed, time passes about 2.3 times slower for the traveler than for someone on Earth.

What is the Time Dilation Formula?

The Time Dilation Formula is:

t' = t / √(1 - v²/c²)

Where:
t' = time measured by the observer (on Earth)
t = time experienced by the traveler
v = velocity of the traveler
c = speed of light (299,792,458 meters per second)