Light distance (or radio distance) to Jupiter
Jupiter is about 4 AU from the Earth at opposition (that is when Earth and
Jupiter are aligned on the same side of the Sun)
1 AU = 150,000,000 kilometers
So this (4 AU) is about 600,000,000 kilometers
Light travels at 300,000 kilometers/sec
Therefore, the time it takes light (or radio waves) to travel from the Earth
to Jupiter (or vice-versa) when the two planets are closest is
-
(600,000,000 kilometers) / (300,000 kilometers/second)
- = 2,000 seconds
- = about 33 minutes
Remember, this is when the planets are closest to one another.
Any other time it will take even longer.