When we talk about the vast distances in the universe and the time it takes for light to travel across them, it can give the impression that light is slow. However, the immense size of the universe is what makes the time scales involved seem enormous.
To put things into perspective, let's consider the scale of our Milky Way galaxy. It is approximately 100,000 light-years in diameter, meaning it takes light around 100,000 years to cross from one end to the other. This might sound like a long time, but it's important to remember that we are dealing with distances on a truly cosmic scale.
Moreover, when we consider the vastness of the observable universe, which contains billions of galaxies, it's mind-boggling to imagine the distances involved. However, light still travels these distances at incredible speeds, and the time it takes is merely a reflection of the immense scales of the universe.
So, it's not that light is slow, but rather that the universe is incredibly vast, leading to immense travel times for light across such distances.