Convert parsecs to light-years

Explanation

From this page you can convert parsecs to light-years (or pc to ly) simply, by using the application above.

In case you are wondering, to convert from parsecs to light-years you need to multiply by 3.2616. This factor is calculated using the respective definitions of the two units you can find below.

Formula

1 pc≈3.2616 ly

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.

light-yearsly

dimension	length
symbol	ly

The light-year (ly) is a unit of length.

It is used to measure astronomical distances like the one between stars or the size of galaxies in popular science publications. It is superseded by the parsec in scientific contexts.

Definition of the light-year

A light-year is the distance that light travels in vacuum in one julian year (i.e. 365.25 days of 86400 seconds each).

Value in terms of the SI

One light-year is equivalent to 9460730472580800 meters.

Equivalences

One light-year is also equivalent to:

Some Facts

After the Sun, Proxima Centauri is the nearest star. Nearest and yet extremely far away, 4.244 light-years (25 trillion miles) from Earth. We have to agree that in a first approximation, the universe is almost empty. And yet, here we are, converting things to light-years.

astronomical unit	au
parsec	pc
kiloparsec	kpc
megaparsec	Mpc
gigaparsec	Gpc

light-nanosecond	lns	0.000 000 001
light-microsecond	lµs	0.000 001
light-millisecond	lms	0.001
light-second	ls	1
light-minute	lmin	60
light-hour	lh	3600
light-day	ld	86 400
light-year	ly	31 557 600
kilolight-year	kly	31 557 600 000
megalight-year	Mly	31 557 600 000 000
gigalight-year	Gly	31 557 600 000 000 000