Convert parsec to astronomical unit
Please provide values below to convert parsec [pc] to astronomical unit [AU, UA], or Convert astronomical unit to parsec.
How to Convert Parsec to Astronomical Unit
1 pc = 206264.806232967 AU, UA
Example: convert 15 pc to AU, UA:
15 pc = 15 × 206264.806232967 AU, UA = 3093972.09349451 AU, UA
Parsec to Astronomical Unit Conversion Table
| parsec | astronomical unit |
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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.
Astronomical Unit
The astronomical unit is a unit of length, now defined as exactly 149,597,870,700 meters. It is approximately the average distance between the Earth and the Sun.
History/Origin
Historically, the astronomical unit was the mean Earth-Sun distance. In 2012, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) redefined it as a fixed constant.
Current Use
The astronomical unit is used primarily for measuring distances within the Solar System or around other stars.