light-second n.
the distance light travels in one second
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1915
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The longest wireless waves ever produced are some number of light seconds long.
Action of Light on Protoplasm in American Journal of Tropical Diseases and Preventive Medicine II. 507 -
1920
Astronomic units of distance now in use, ‘light second’, ‘light hour’, etc., are commensurable with the units proposed, the first being one billion times the fundamental unit of length.
More Nearly Rational System of Units in Science 3 Dec. 527/1 -
1922
Expressing these large and small measures with reference to the velocity of light, we have an illustration of the scale of the astronomer’s universe—his measures range from the trillionth of a billionth part of one light-second, to more than a thousand light-centuries.
On Significance of Recent Astron. Discovery in Homiletic Rev. July 52/2 -
1930
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John W. Campbell, Jr.
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The great control ships directed the dive of the radio-control-ships, making the distance one-twentieth part of a light second.
Metal Horde in Amazing Stories Apr. 12/2 -
1942
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Isaac Asimov
One fleet was not two parsecs from Vega itself; another had captured Luna and hovered one light-second above the Earth.
Black Friar of the Flame in Planet Stories Spring 21/2 -
1956
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Let us select a foot as common measurement, and we shall define a foot as a certain fraction of a light-second so that any measurement system can be converted to feet.
Letter in Worlds of If Oct. 117/2 -
1976
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Arthur C. Clarke
On the Apollo voyages, for the first time, men traveled more than a light-second away from Earth.
Communications in Galileo Sept. 66/3 -
1996
David Weber
Another light-second and a half, and she could bring the Manty under fire with her energy weapons.
Honor Among Enemies (1997) 488 -
1999
Vernor Vinge
We have hundreds of millions of people living within a few light-seconds of each other.
Deepness in Sky xxii. 258 -
2012
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Andy Weir
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Yes, NASA gave the OK for direct communication an hour ago. We’re only 35 light-seconds apart, so we can talk in near-realtime. I just set up the system and I’m testing it out.
Martian xxv. (unpaged)
Research requirements
antedating 1915
Earliest cite
W.T. Bovie, "The Action of Light on Protoplasm"
Research History
Adam Buchbinder submitted a 1922 cite from "On the Significance of Recent Astronomical Discovery" by Harlow ShapleyAdam Buchbinder submitted a 1920 cite from "A More Nearly Rational System of Units" by Eliot Q. Adams
Adam Buchbinder submitted a 1915 cite from "The Action of Light on Protoplasm" by W.T. Bovie
Ben Ostrowsky submitted a 2012 cite from Andy Weir.
Last modified 2021-10-18 22:58:13
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