Convert parsecs to kilometers

Explanation

From this page you can convert parsecs to kilometers (or pc to km) simply, by using the application above.

In case you are wondering, to convert from parsecs to kilometers you need to multiply by 3.0857 × 10¹³. This factor is calculated using the respective definitions of the two units you can find below.

Formula

1 pc≈3.0857 × 10¹³ km

parsecspc

dimension	length
symbol	pc

The parsec (pc) is unit of length used in astronomy.

The unit is used to express distances inside or between galaxies. For example, the Sun is located approximately 8000 parsecs from the center of the Milky Way.

Definition of the parsec

A parsec is defined as the distance at which 1 Astronomical Unit subtends an angle of 1 second of arc.

International Astronomical Union

Value

In this converter, we use the approximate value of 30856775814913673 meters. If you need an exact equivalence (and why wouldn't you), you should know that πpc (pi parsecs) exactly equals 96939420213600000 m.

Some Facts

Let's see if we can get an idea of how big a parsec is.

One of the fastest man-made object is the Voyager 1 space probe. At its current speed of 17000 meters per second, Voyager 1 would take 57500 years to travel just one parsec away from the Sun.

Astronomical Distances Units

astronomical unit	au
parsec	pc
kiloparsec	kpc
megaparsec	Mpc
gigaparsec	Gpc

Related Conversions

kilometerskm

dimension	length
system	International system of units (SI)
symbol	km

The kilometer (km) is a unit of length in the International System of Units.

In ascending order, the kilometer comes after the hectometer and before the megameter.

Definition of the kilometer

One kilometer is equal to 1000 meters.

Equivalences

One kilometer is equivalent to:

Some Facts

The Kármán line is the arbitrary upper limit of the atmosphere. It is set 100 kilometers (62 miles) high.
The top of Mount Everest, the most prominent montain on Earth, is more than 8.8 kilometers above sea level.

Prefix

kilo

10³

The prefix kilo- comes from the ancient Greek chilioi meaning thousand. The associated multiplicative factor is 1000 or 10³.

Metric length units

femtometer	fm	0.000 000 000 000 001
picometer	pm	0.000 000 000 001
nanometer	nm	0.000 000 001
micrometer	µm	0.000 001
millimeter	mm	0.001
centimeter	cm	0.01
decimeter	dm	0.1
meter	m	1
dekameter	dam	10
hectometer	hm	100
kilometer	km	1000
megameter	Mm	1 000 000
gigameter	Gm	1 000 000 000
terameter	Tm	1 000 000 000 000
petameter	Pm	1 000 000 000 000 000
exameter	Em	1 000 000 000 000 000 000

The International System of Units

The International System of Units or SI (from the French Système international (d'unité)), also called metric system in the U.S., is a coherent system of units that was published 1960. It is official in nearly every country.

The General Conference on Weights and Measures (Conférence générale des poids et mesures) is tasked with overseeing the SI.