Relativistic Time Dilation

Time dilation is what you need.

From the photons' perspective it took no time at all!

Time is relative to the observer...

this phenomenon is called “time dilation” you can search for it.Not trying to be a dick, just not qualified to explain this myself

I think it might be time dilation. You intercept photons that were transmitted a bit back in time?

Nope, those are relativistic effects. This dude called Einstein had a few things to say about it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_relativityOne of the effects in time dilation, where moving clocks are measured to tick more slowly than an observer's "stationary" clock.

Here’s something I’ve never understood; perhaps a more knowledgeable commenter can explain it to me.If I get in a spaceship and accelerate up to about 0.9c, then cruise for a while, then flip around and come home at the same speed, I will have experienced much less time than the people on Earth. But from my frame of reference, they were the ones going really fast, and I was sitting still. If all motion is relative, what makes me the one to experience less time?

Exactly. Look up the twin‘s paradox - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin_paradox

I found this helpful:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_dilation

I assume this is due to time dilation, so it's not a limitation of the clocks.