Home Light Year A light year is the distance that light travels in one year,at the speed of 186,282 miles per second.Art Buchwald is being humorous when he deliberately says"20,000 light years ago."The intended meaning is only "a very,very long time ago.” 12 Light Year A light year is the distance that light travels in one year, at the speed of 186,282 miles per second. Art Buchwald is being humorous when he deliberately says “20,000 light years ago.” The intended meaning is only “a very, very long time ago