Tau Ceti is a Sun-like star located 11.9 light-years away in the constellation Cetus. It hosts a system of potentially Earth-like planets, some in the habitable zone where liquid water could exist.
Distance11.91 light-years
Star TypeYellow dwarf (G8.5V)
ConstellationCetus
Apparent Magnitude3.5
Time Dilation Formula Calculator
Journey Summary
Traveler's Time:
N/A years
Time experienced on the spacecraft
Observer's Time:
N/A years
Time passed on Earth
Maximum Velocity:
N/A c
Peak speed (as fraction of light speed)
Energy Required:
N/A J
Total energy needed for the journey
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 Tau Ceti
At light speed, the journey would take 11.9 years
Tau Ceti has at least 4 confirmed planets, with 2 possibly in the habitable zone
The star has been a prime target for SETI searches since 1960
Notable For: Sun-like star with potential Earth-like planets in habitable zone
Frequently Asked Questions
How long to travel to Tau Ceti?
At light speed, it would take 11.9 years to reach Tau Ceti. At 1g constant acceleration with deceleration, a traveler would experience about 7.3 years.
Could Tau Ceti have habitable planets?
Tau Ceti may have planets in its habitable zone. At least two of its confirmed planets (Tau Ceti e and f) orbit in or near the habitable zone where liquid water could exist.
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)