How far is Mars from Earth in light years? To be exact, the distance between Mars and Earth is less than one light-year, which is 4.2×10−5 light-years.

However, since both Earth and Mars revolve around the sun, the distance varies from time to time. As a result, there are long- and short-distance calculations between the two planets, with an average distance of 140 million miles (225 million km).

And, if you’re not fully aware, a light-year is the distance that a beam of light travels in one Earth year, roughly 6 trillion miles or 9.7 trillion kilometers.

Since we have now discussed the distance of mars from the earth in light-years, let’s see how long it takes to reach mars in earth years.

How long does it take to get to Mars from Earth in years

NASA estimates that a one-way voyage to Mars would take around nine months. If you were to make it a round-trip, it would take approximately 21 months since you would have to wait three months on Mars to ensure that Earth and Mars are in a proper position for the return journey.

Approximately every two years, Mars and Earth approach their closest point, known as “opposition,” when Mars can be as near to earth as 55,000,000 km. Space agencies take advantage of this orbital arrangement every two years to launch spacecraft to Mars.

Why does it take too long to reach Mars?

This is because both Earth and Mars orbit the sun. You cannot aim directly at Mars and launch your rockets because Mars would have shifted by the time you arrive. Instead, the spacecraft launched by earth must be aimed in the direction Mars will travel.

The other challenge is fuel. It depends on how much fuel you are willing to spend to reach your destination. More fuel means less travel time.