par·sec (pär s k )n. A unit of astronomical length based on the distance from Earth at which stellar parallax is one second of arc and equal to 3.258 light-years, 3.086 × 1013 kilometers, or 1.918 × 1013 miles. [par(allax) + sec(ond).] |
parsec [ˈpɑːˌsɛk]
n
(Mathematics & Measurements / Units) a unit of astronomical distance equal to the distance from earth at which stellar parallax would be 1 second of arc; equivalent to 3.0857 ✕ 1016 m or 3.262 light years
[from parallax + second2]
| parsec (pärsk) A unit of astronomical length equal to 3.26 light-years. It is based on the distance from Earth at which a star would have a parallax of one second of arc. Its metric equivalent is about 30.8 trillion km (19.1 trillion mi). It is used in measuring distances in interstellar and intergalactic space. The closest star to Earth, Alpha Centauri, is about 1.3 parsecs away. Compare astronomical unitlight-year |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | parsec - a unit of astronomical length based on the distance from Earth at which stellar parallax is 1 second of arc; equivalent to 3.262 light years astronomy unit - a linear unit used for astronomical distances |
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