How fast is the speed of light?

The speed of light, typically noted as c in math and physics formulas is 299,792,458 meters per second (186,282 miles per second). Note, this figure is for the speed in a vacuum as light will propagate at different speeds through different mediums.

Here’s the speed of light compared to other fast things (in miles per hour):

Unmanned spacecraft, Helios 1 and 2. 157,082 mph. Light is 4,269 times faster than the fastest vehicle ever built by man.

Manned spacecraft, Apollo 10. 39,665 mph. Light is almost 17,000 times faster.

Jet, SR-71 Blackbird, the world’s fastest jet has traveled at 2,193 mph. Light is 305,799 times faster.

Sound: 768 mph. Very much slower than light. 873,000 times slower.

World’s fastest car, Bugatti Veyron. 267 mph. Pretty fast, but compared to light, it’s 2,511,673 times slower.

World’s fastest bird, Spine-tailed Swift, 171 mph. This is crazy fast for a bird. But almost 4 million times slower than light.

World’s fastest mammal, the cheetah has been clocked at 71 mph. 9.4 million times slower than light.

World’s fastest insect, the dragonfly. One species has been measured at 36 mph.

World’s fastest man, Usain Bolt. While faster than anyone else on the planet at 23 mph, he’s still 29 million times slower than light.