If I can see Jupiter tonight, how far back into time am I seeing?

Question

How many years did it take the light from Jupiter to get to earth?

Answer 1

Jupiter is only 43.3 light-minutes away, so you are seeing light that left Jupiter 43.3 minutes before.

Answer 2

About 35 minutes.

http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/bnbg6...

Answer 3

not years, not even hours. it takes about 35 minutes. i say jupiter tonight too. two of the four galolein moons are close to the planet, and the other two are on the right side, further out. fortunately, its out of the horizon now, so you can get a better look.

Answer 4

Not that long.  Right now Jupiter is about 4.18 AU from the Earth.  Therefore the reflected light now takes about 33 minutes to reach Earth.

Answer 5

The minimum distance to Jupiter is 588 million km, the maximum distance from Earth to Jupiter is 595 million km. Convert these to light minutes with the handy google convert function, and the light you are seeing was reflected by jupiter 32.69 - 33.08 minutes ago. I understand Jupiter is quite close at the moment, so closer to the smaller number, probably.