Distances in space. Astronomical unit, light year and parsec

angular sec und and denotes the distance to an object whose quarter-year parallax is equal to one arcsecond.

According to an equivalent definition, a parsec is the distance from which average radius of the earth's orbit(equal to 1 AU), perpendicular to the line of sight, is visible at an angle of one arcsecond (1″).

1 pc= a.u. ≈ 206,264.8 a.u.= 3.0856776 10 16 = 30.8568 trillion km(petameters) = 3.2616 light years.

Multiple units are also used: kiloparsec (kpc), megaparsec (Mpc), gigaparsec (Gpc).

Some distances

see also

Notes

Literature

  • Parsec. Article from the Great Soviet Encyclopedia.

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Synonyms:

See what "Parsec" is in other dictionaries:

    - (pc, rs), a unit of length used in astronomy; 1 pc=206,265 a. e. = 3.0857 1016 m. A star located at a distance of 1 pc has an annual parallax equal to 1. Definition of parsec. Physical encyclopedic dictionary. M.: Soviet... ... Physical encyclopedia

    - (denoted pc (SI) or ps), the distance at which the star would have a PARALLAX equal to one arcsecond. A parsec is equal to 3.2616 light years, 206,265 astronomical units, or 3.08631013 km... Scientific and technical encyclopedic dictionary

    Modern encyclopedia

    - (short for parallax and second) a unit of length used in astronomy. Equal to the distance at which the parallax is 1?; denoted pk (SI), former designation ps. 1 pc = 206,265 a. e. = 3.263 light years = 3.086.1016 m... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

    PARSEK, parseka, husband. (composed of an abbreviation for the word parallax and an abbreviation for the word second) (astro.). A unit of measurement for stellar distances, equal to the distance for which the annual parallax is equal to one second. Ushakov's explanatory dictionary. D.N.... ... Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

    Noun, number of synonyms: 1 unit (830) ASIS Dictionary of Synonyms. V.N. Trishin. 2013… Synonym dictionary

    parsec- a, m. parsec m. abbreviation parallax + second. astr. A unit of measurement for stellar distances equal to 3.26 light years. SIS 1954. A unit of measurement of distances in astronomy, equal to the distance for which the annual parallax is equal to one... ... Historical Dictionary of Gallicisms of the Russian Language

    parsec- parsec, gen. pl. parsecs... Dictionary of difficulties of pronunciation and stress in modern Russian language

    parsec- parallax second... Dictionary of abbreviations and abbreviations

    Parsec- (short for parallax and second), a unit of length used in astronomy. Equal to the distance at which the parallax (in this case, the angle at which a segment 1 astronomical unit long is visible) is 1. 1 pc=206265 a. e.=3.263… … Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

    PARSEC- a non-systemic unit of length, acceptable and often used in astronomy along with SI units; designated pc. 1 pc is equal to the distance from which the half-diameter of the earth's orbit (»75,000 million km) is visible at an angle of 1 (1 arcsecond); 1 pc » 3.26… … Big Polytechnic Encyclopedia

angular sec und and denotes the distance to an object whose quarter-year parallax is equal to one arcsecond.

According to an equivalent definition, a parsec is the distance from which average radius of the earth's orbit(equal to 1 AU), perpendicular to the line of sight, is visible at an angle of one arcsecond (1″).

1 pc= a.u. ≈ 206,264.8 a.u.= 3.0856776 10 16 = 30.8568 trillion km(petameters) = 3.2616 light years.

Multiple units are also used: kiloparsec (kpc), megaparsec (Mpc), gigaparsec (Gpc).

Some distances

see also

Notes

Literature

  • Parsec. Article from the Great Soviet Encyclopedia.

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Synonyms:
  • Kilometer
  • Supermalloy

See what "Parsec" is in other dictionaries:

    PARSEC- (pc, rs), a unit of length used in astronomy; 1 pc=206,265 a. e. = 3.0857 1016 m. A star located at a distance of 1 pc has an annual parallax equal to 1. Definition of parsec. Physical encyclopedic dictionary. M.: Soviet... ... Physical encyclopedia

    PARSEC- (denoted pc (SI) or ps), the distance at which the star would have a PARALLAX equal to one arcsecond. A parsec is equal to 3.2616 light years, 206,265 astronomical units, or 3.08631013 km... Scientific and technical encyclopedic dictionary

    PARSEC Modern encyclopedia

    PARSEC- (short for parallax and second) a unit of length used in astronomy. Equal to the distance at which the parallax is 1?; denoted pk (SI), former designation ps. 1 pc = 206,265 a. e. = 3.263 light years = 3.086.1016 m... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

    PARSEC- PARSEK, parseka, husband. (composed of an abbreviation for the word parallax and an abbreviation for the word second) (astro.). A unit of measurement for stellar distances, equal to the distance for which the annual parallax is equal to one second. Ushakov's explanatory dictionary. D.N.... ... Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

    parsec- noun, number of synonyms: 1 unit (830) ASIS Dictionary of Synonyms. V.N. Trishin. 2013… Synonym dictionary

    parsec- a, m. parsec m. abbreviation parallax + second. astr. A unit of measurement for stellar distances equal to 3.26 light years. SIS 1954. A unit of measurement of distances in astronomy, equal to the distance for which the annual parallax is equal to one... ... Historical Dictionary of Gallicisms of the Russian Language

    parsec- parsec, gen. pl. parsecs... Dictionary of difficulties of pronunciation and stress in modern Russian language

    parsec- parallax second... Dictionary of abbreviations and abbreviations

    Parsec- (short for parallax and second), a unit of length used in astronomy. Equal to the distance at which the parallax (in this case, the angle at which a segment 1 astronomical unit long is visible) is 1. 1 pc=206265 a. e.=3.263… … Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

    PARSEC- a non-systemic unit of length, acceptable and often used in astronomy along with SI units; designated pc. 1 pc is equal to the distance from which the half-diameter of the earth's orbit (»75,000 million km) is visible at an angle of 1 (1 arcsecond); 1 pc » 3.26… … Big Polytechnic Encyclopedia

The name is formed from abbreviations of the words “ steam allax" and " sec unda" - a parsec is equal to the distance to an object whose annual trigonometric parallax is equal to one arcsecond.

According to an equivalent definition, a parsec is the distance from which a segment one astronomical unit long (substantially equal to the mean radius of the Earth's orbit), perpendicular to the line of sight, is visible at an angle of one arcsecond (1″).

1 pc = \frac(1)(\operatorname(tg)1 } A. e. ≈ \frac(360\cdot60\cdot60)(2\pi) A. e. ≈ 206,264.8 a. e. = 3.0856776 10 16 m = 30.8568 trillion km (petameters) = 3.2616 light years.

Multiple units are also used: kiloparsec (kpc), megaparsec (Mpc), gigaparsec (Gpc). Submultiples are generally not used, since astronomical units are used instead.

Some distances

  • 1 astronomical unit (AU) is approximately 4.848·10−6 parsecs;
  • as of February 13, 2015, the Voyager 1 spacecraft was at a distance of 0.000630 pc (19.4 billion km, or 130 AU) from the Sun, moving away at 17.5 microparsecs per year (3. 6 AU/year);
  • Oort cloud diameter ≈0.62 pc;
  • the distance from the Sun to the nearest star (Proxima Centauri) is 1.3 parsecs;
  • light travels a distance of 10 pc in 32 years, 7 months and 6 days;
  • the distance from the Sun to the nearest globular cluster, M4, is 2.2 kpc;
  • the distance from the Sun to the center of our Galaxy is about 8 kpc;
  • The diameter of our Galaxy is about 30 kpc;
  • distance to the Andromeda nebula - 0.77 Mpc;
  • the nearest large galaxy cluster, the Virgo cluster, is at a distance of 18 Mpc;
  • on scales of the order of 300 Mpc the Universe is practically homogeneous;
  • the distance to the first discovered, brightest and one of the closest quasars, 3C 273, is 734 Mpc;
  • to the horizon of the observable Universe - about 4 Gpc (if you measure the distance traveled by light recorded on Earth), or, if you estimate the current distance - taking into account the expansion of the Universe (that is, to distant objects that once emitted this radiation) ≈14 Gpc;

see also

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  • Article from the Great Soviet Encyclopedia.

Excerpt characterizing Parsec

Prince Andrei had already heard exactly the same phrase about Countess Zubova and the same laugh five times in front of strangers from his wife.
He quietly entered the room. The princess, plump, rosy-cheeked, with work in her hands, sat on an armchair and talked incessantly, going over St. Petersburg memories and even phrases. Prince Andrei came up, stroked her head and asked if she had rested from the road. She answered and continued the same conversation.
Six of the strollers stood at the entrance. It was a dark autumn night outside. The coachman did not see the pole of the carriage. People with lanterns were bustling about on the porch. The huge house glowed with lights through its large windows. The hall was crowded with courtiers who wanted to say goodbye to the young prince; All the household were standing in the hall: Mikhail Ivanovich, m lle Bourienne, Princess Marya and the princess.
Prince Andrei was called into his father’s office, who wanted to say goodbye to him privately. Everyone was waiting for them to come out.
When Prince Andrei entered the office, the old prince, wearing old man's glasses and in his white robe, in which he did not receive anyone except his son, was sitting at the table and writing. He looked back.
-Are you going? - And he began to write again.
- I came to say goodbye.
“Kiss here,” he showed his cheek, “thank you, thank you!”
- What do you thank me for?
“You don’t hold on to a woman’s skirt for not being overdue.” Service comes first. Thank you, thank you! - And he continued to write, so that splashes flew from the crackling pen. - If you need to say something, say it. I can do these two things together,” he added.
- About my wife... I’m already ashamed that I’m leaving her in your arms...
- Why are you lying? Say what you need.
- When it’s time for your wife to give birth, send to Moscow for an obstetrician... So that he is here.
The old prince stopped and, as if not understanding, stared with stern eyes at his son.
“I know that no one can help unless nature helps,” said Prince Andrei, apparently embarrassed. – I agree that out of a million cases, one is unfortunate, but this is her and my imagination. They told her, she saw it in a dream, and she is afraid.
“Hm... hm...” the old prince said to himself, continuing to write. - I'll do it.
He drew out the signature, suddenly turned quickly to his son and laughed.
- It's bad, huh?
- What's bad, father?
- Wife! – the old prince said briefly and significantly.
“I don’t understand,” said Prince Andrei.
“There’s nothing to do, my friend,” said the prince, “they’re all like that, you won’t get married.” Do not be afraid; I won't tell anyone; and you know it yourself.
He grabbed his hand with his bony little hand, shook it, looked straight into his son’s face with his quick eyes, which seemed to see right through the man, and laughed again with his cold laugh.
The son sighed, admitting with this sigh that his father understood him. The old man, continuing to fold and print letters, with his usual speed, grabbed and threw sealing wax, seal and paper.
- What to do? Beautiful! I'll do everything. “Be at peace,” he said abruptly while typing.
Andrei was silent: he was both pleased and unpleasant that his father understood him. The old man stood up and handed the letter to his son.
“Listen,” he said, “don’t worry about your wife: what can be done will be done.” Now listen: give the letter to Mikhail Ilarionovich. I am writing to tell him to use you in good places and not keep you as an adjutant for a long time: it’s a bad position! Tell him that I remember him and love him. Yes, write how he will receive you. If you are good, serve. Nikolai Andreich Bolkonsky’s son will not serve anyone out of mercy. Well, now come here.
He spoke in such a rapid-fire manner that he did not finish half the words, but his son got used to understanding him. He led his son to the bureau, threw back the lid, pulled out the drawer and took out a notebook covered in his large, long and condensed handwriting.
“I must die before you.” Know that my notes are here, to be handed over to the Emperor after my death. Now here is a pawn ticket and a letter: this is a prize for the one who writes the history of Suvorov’s wars. Send to the academy. Here are my remarks, after me read for yourself, you will find benefit.

Parsec is a cosmic unit of measurement with which astronomers determine the distance to particularly distant objects in the Universe.

Parsec (abbreviated “parallax second”) is an off-system unit of measurement used in cosmology to measure distances to particularly distant objects in outer space. This unit not only performs a practical function - it helps to calculate the distance to a particular object in the Universe, but also creates a kind of comfort for astronomers. Judge for yourself, it is much easier to say that the distance from the Sun to the nearest star is 1.3 parsecs than to say that it is 40.7 trillion kilometers. A person who regularly operated numbers with such a huge number of zeros would sooner or later go crazy. Thus, by inventing the parsec, scientists significantly simplified computational processes in astronomy.

Parsec is a popular unit of measurement in astrophysics. Fans of this science are well aware that it is equal to 3.2616 light years. Many of them can freely name the distance to one or another distant object in parsecs. But, unfortunately, not everyone understands how this unit of measurement was born and how to calculate it correctly.

History of discovery

If distances to close objects in space can be measured using a radio telescope with an accuracy of a few centimeters, then measuring distances to distant corners of the Universe is much more difficult. However, scientists needed to find a way to calculate this value and they decided to use the horizontal parallax method, which is well known in geometry.

The essence of the horizontal parallax method is simple: if you look at a distant object from different places, then against the background of other, more distant objects it will change its position. Knowing the distance between the places from which observation is carried out, as well as the angle of displacement of the object against the background of distant objects, you can calculate the distance to it by geometric calculations. Astronomers decided to take advantage of this axiom; it served as the basis for the discovery of a new unit of measurement - the parsec.

How to determine parsec

Let's say you're looking at a star and want to determine its distance in parsecs. But to do this, you need to know what a distance of 1 parsec is. This distance represents the displacement of the celestial body against the background of other, more distant objects by an angle equal to one arc second when the observer moves half the diameter of the earth's orbit.

Some may find this definition difficult to understand. In fact, the essence of the definition of parsec is not that difficult to understand. Returning to our star, the distance in parsecs to which we want to determine, we will have to make two observations of this object from different points in the earth's orbit. This can be done without any space instruments, but simply by waiting for the Earth itself to pass half of its annual path and stand on the opposite side of the Sun.

Knowing the distance between the points from which observations were made (it is equal to 1 astronomical unit - the distance of the Earth from the Sun or the radius of the Earth's orbit), as well as the displacement of the star against the background of more distant stars and galaxies, we can calculate the distance to it. If in the observed range the star has moved by 1 arc second, the distance to it is one parsec, but if it has moved by half a second, it is two parsecs. Contrary to guesses, the smaller the parallax (displacement) of a celestial body, the more parsecs there are to it.

In the section on the question What is 1 parsec equal to? given by the author chevron the best answer is 3.2616 light years
Source: wikipedia.org

Answer from Lysander[newbie]
1 light year. I don’t remember exactly, but one light second is the distance from the Earth to the Moon, so you can look it up in a reference book and calculate how much it will be per year))


Answer from Plane[newbie]
The distance a beam of light travels at a speed of 300,000 km/sec in one year.


Answer from AB[guru]
Parsec (abbreviated pc) is a non-systemic unit of distance measurement common in astronomy. The name comes from parallax arcsecond and denotes the distance to an object whose annual trigonometric parallax is equal to one arcsecond. According to another equivalent definition, a parsec is the distance from which the average radius of the Earth's orbit (equal to 1 AU), perpendicular to the line of sight, is visible at an angle of one arcsecond (1″).


Answer from Help[guru]
A light year is the distance that light travels in a year.
Light travels from the Earth to the Moon in a little more than a second.
A parsec is the distance at which the Earth is visible at an angle of one second (1/3600 of a degree). I don’t remember exactly, it’s a little more than 3 light years.


Answer from Larisa Krushelnitskaya[guru]
A parsec is the distance from which the semimajor axis of the Earth's orbit appears at an angle of 1 arcsecond. That is
1 parsec = 1 astronomical unit / sin 1”
sin 1” = π/(180 60 60) = 1/206264.806
1 parsec = 206264.806 astronomical units =
= 206264.806 149 597 870.691 km = 3.08567758 10^13 km


Answer from Dmitry(C.)[guru]
1 parsec (parallax/second) is the distance at which an object has a parallax of 1 arcsecond. There are 3.26 light years in one parsec, or 206,265 astronomical units (the distance from the Earth to the Sun), or 31 trillion kilometers (3.1 * 10 to the thirteenth power).