Astronomers have identified where in space Krypton could have existed: Here’s how much it would take Superman to travel to Earth
If Superman’s home planet were real, it would be 42 light-years away. That means Kal-El’s journey to Earth may have taken centuries—unless Kryptonian tech broke the laws of physics.
Superman’s origin story is one of the most iconic in pop culture: a baby rocketed from a dying planet, arriving on Earth to become its greatest protector. But what if Krypton were real? Thanks to astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, we now have a scientifically plausible answer, and it raises fascinating questions about Superman’s age, speed, and the limits of space travel.
Where Krypton could be
In 2012, Tyson identified a real star that could serve as Krypton’s home: LHS 2520, a red dwarf located in the constellation Corvus. It sits approximately 41.9 light-years from Earth, making it relatively close in cosmic terms, but still unimaginably far for a spacecraft.
This star even appeared in Action Comics #14, where Tyson helped Superman locate his home system. It’s cooler and smaller than our sun, but potentially habitable, making it a fitting birthplace for a humanoid species like the Kryptonians.
How long would the journey take?
If Kal-El’s ship traveled at the speed of light (which is physically impossible for objects with mass), the trip would take 42 years. But most Superman stories depict him arriving on Earth as a baby or toddler, suggesting either:
- Suspended animation during a centuries-long journey
- Faster-than-light travel, which violates Einstein’s laws of relativity
- A wormhole or sci-fi shortcut, never fully explained in canon
If Krypton exploded like a supernova, its debris (including Kryptonite) could reach Earth in about 420 years, traveling at 10% the speed of light. If Kal-El’s ship traveled just ahead of that debris, Superman would be over 420 years old upon arrival.
So how old is Superman?
Chronologically, he could be centuries old. Physiologically, he’s usually portrayed as being in his early 30s. That discrepancy suggests either advanced stasis technology or a narrative hand-wave, because Kryptonian biology alone doesn’t explain the time gap.
This scientific framing adds depth to Superman’s mythology. It transforms his origin from pure fantasy into speculative science fiction, and invites fans to imagine the real physics behind the legend. It also highlights how storytelling and astronomy can intersect in surprising ways.
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