What is Parsec?
{{Infobox unit | name = Parsec | image = Stellarparallax parsec1.svg | caption = A parsec is the distance from the [[Sun]] to an [[astronomical object]] which has a [[parallax]] angle of one [[arcsecond]]. (the diagram is not to scale). | standard = astronomical units | quantity = length | symbol = pc | units1 = [[International System of Units|SI units]] | inunits1 = {{val|3.0857|e=16|ul=m}} | units2 = [[Imperial units|imperial]] & [[United States customary units|US]] units | inunits2 = {{val|1.9174|e=13|ul=mi}} | units3 = other astronomical | inunits3 = {{val|2.0626|e=5|ul=AU}} | units4 = &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;units | inunits4 = {{val|3.26156}}&nbsp;[[light-year|ly]] }} A '''parsec''' is a unit of distance used in [[astronomy]]. It is the distance that light travels in 3.26 years, or just under 31 trillion kilometres (about 19 trillion miles). This is from the [[definition]]: a parsec is the distance from the Sun to an object which has a [[parallax]] [[angle]] of one [[arcsecond]]. The technique used in the calculation is [[trigonometry]]. It takes 3.26 years for the light to come from a parsec away. {{-}} {{science-stub}} [[Category:Astronomical distances]] [[Category:Units of length]]