Motion is relative, in that it’s only meaningful when comparing the motion of one object with respect to another. This is why it isn\u2019t possible to meaningfully judge how fast you\u2019re moving through space.<\/p>\n
Due to Earth\u2019s rotation, your speed (relative to Earth\u2019s centre) depends on your latitude, but can\u2019t exceed 1,670km\/h (1,040mph). The maximum speed of Earth as it orbits the Sun<\/a> is 109,000km\/h (67,700mph).<\/a><\/p>\n As the Solar System orbits around the centre of the Milky Way, it\u2019s travelling at about 828,000km\/h (514,000 mph).<\/p>\n Of course, all these speeds are changing direction relative to each other, so unfortunately, we can\u2019t simply add them together to get your overall speed.<\/p>\n What we can do, though, is define your speed relative to the cosmic microwave background<\/a> (CMB), the faint relic radiation left over from the Big Bang<\/a>.<\/p>\n This speed turns out to be about 1,332,000km\/h (828,000mph), towards a point in the sky in the constellation of Leo.<\/p>\n But, since the Sun\u2019s rotation around the centre of the Milky Way is essentially the opposite of the galaxy\u2019s direction of travel through the Universe, the Milky Way is actually moving at about 2,257,200km\/h (1,402,560mph) relative to the CMB.<\/p>\n As fast as it sounds, your motion relative to the CMB is only about 0.1 per cent of the speed of light. This means that, for you, time runs about 15.7 seconds per year slower than it does in the reference frame of the CMB.<\/p>\n This article is an answer to the question (asked by Keith Thompson, Warrington) ‘What speed am I travelling, right now?’<\/p>\n To submit your questions, email us at questions@sciencefocus.com, or message our Facebook<\/a>, X<\/a>, or Instagram<\/a> pages (don’t forget to include your name and location).<\/p>\n Check out our ultimate fun facts<\/a> page for more mind-blowing science<\/p>\n Read more:<\/p>\n