Convert light year to parsec
Please provide values below to convert light year [ly] to parsec [pc], or Convert parsec to light year.
1 ly = 0.306601393807 pc. To convert light year to parsec, multiply the value by 0.306601393807; to go the other way, divide by it (1 pc = 3.26156377694 ly). Both units measure length and appear in everyday as well as technical calculations, so switching between them quickly is often useful.
Quick Reference
- 1 ly = 0.306601393807 pc
- 1 pc = 3.26156377694 ly
- 10 ly = 3.06601393807 pc
- 100 ly = 30.6601393807 pc
How to Convert Light Year to Parsec
1 ly = 0.306601393806527 pc
Example: convert 15 ly to pc:
15 ly = 15 × 0.306601393806527 pc = 4.5990209070979 pc
Light Year to Parsec Conversion Table
| light year | parsec |
|---|---|
| 1 ly | 0.306601393807 pc |
| 2 ly | 0.613202787613 pc |
| 3 ly | 0.91980418142 pc |
| 5 ly | 1.53300696903 pc |
| 10 ly | 3.06601393807 pc |
| 20 ly | 6.13202787613 pc |
| 50 ly | 15.3300696903 pc |
| 100 ly | 30.6601393807 pc |
| 500 ly | 153.300696903 pc |
| 1000 ly | 306.601393807 pc |
Light Year
A light-year is the distance that light travels in a vacuum in one Julian year.
History/Origin
The concept of the light-year as a unit of distance in astronomy emerged in the mid-19th century. The first recorded use of the term was in a German astronomical publication in 1851.
Current Use
The light-year is used to express distances to stars and other astronomical objects on a galactic and intergalactic scale, especially in popular science and non-specialist contexts.
Parsec
A parsec is a unit of length used to measure the large distances to astronomical objects outside the Solar System, approximately equal to 3.26 light-years. It is the distance at which one astronomical unit subtends an angle of one arcsecond.
History/Origin
The term "parsec" is a portmanteau of "parallax" and "second," coined by British astronomer Herbert Hall Turner in 1913.
Current Use
The parsec is the preferred unit of distance in astronomy and astrophysics for expressing the distances to stars and galaxies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 1 light year in parsec?
1 light year (ly) = 0.306601393807 parsec (pc).
How do you convert light year to parsec?
Multiply the light year value by 0.306601393807. For example, 25 ly × 0.306601393807 = 7.66503484516 pc.
What is 10 light year in parsec?
10 ly = 3.06601393807 pc.
Which unit is larger, the light year or the parsec?
The parsec is the larger unit: 1 ly equals only 0.306601393807 pc.