Parsec is a length unit used to express distance, size or travel range in practical measurement work.
Parsec is short for 'parallax of one arcsecond', a term coined by astronomer Herbert Hall Turner in 1913. It is the distance at which one astronomical unit spans one arcsecond, about 3.26 light-years.
Measurement system: Metric, imperial and internationally standardized length usage. SI equivalent: 1 pc = 3.085678e+16 m.
Parsec facts
- Unit name
- Parsec
- Symbol
- pc
- Category
- Length
- Measurement system
- Metric, imperial and internationally standardized length usage
- SI equivalent
- 1 pc = 3.085678e+16 m
- Common uses
- Distance, dimensions, navigation and physical measurement
Definition of the parsec
Parsec is a length unit used to express distance, size or travel range in practical measurement work.
Measurement system and SI relationship
Metric, imperial and internationally standardized length usage
SI equivalent: 1 pc = 3.085678e+16 m
History of the parsec
Parsec is short for 'parallax of one arcsecond', a term coined by astronomer Herbert Hall Turner in 1913. It is the distance at which one astronomical unit spans one arcsecond, about 3.26 light-years.
Where is the parsec used?
Distance, dimensions, navigation and physical measurement