A parsec, abbreviated pc, is a unit used by astronomers to measure the vast distances in our universe, such as between stars or galaxies. Parsecs measure length, not time, speed, or force. Parsec is the distance at which the distance between the Earth and the Sun (one astronomical unit) subtends an angle of one arc second. In other words, it is 3.26 light-years or 206,265 astronomical units, which is approximately 31 trillion kilometers. The word parsec is derived from the phrase “parallax of one second.”
- (a) Time: Parsecs measure angles, not time. Parsecs have no connection with time, contrary to what many fans of Star Wars believe.
- (b) Speed: The unit of speed is measured in meters per second or kilometers per hour.
- (d) Force: The unit of force is measured in newtons (N).