![]() So a parsec is the calculated distance it takes for one astronomical unit of distance to cover an angle of 1/3600 degrees. One astronomical unit is equal to the distance between the Earth and sun, while arcseconds are a unit for measuring angles (one arcsecond is equal to 1/3600 degrees). Using parallax, astronomers calculate the distance it takes for one astronomical unit to subtend one arcsecond. Parsecs are calculated using parallax, which is a form of distance measurement used in astronomical observations. However, why is one parsec equal to 3.26 light years? After all, that number seems fairly specific. Going from light year to parsec is fairly simple, and all it requires is dividing the number of light years by 3.26. The nearest star to us, Proxima Centauri, is located 4.2 light years away or 1.3 parsecs. One parsec is equivalent to 3.26 light years. How Big Are Parsecs? Proxima Centauri is the closest star to the sun at a distance of 4.2 light years or 1.3 parsecs. There is actually another form of measurement that is often used in calculating vast distances: parsecs. For example, a star that is located 500 light years away would take 500 years to reach travelling at the speed of light. To simplify things, astronomers generally use light years, which is just the distance light travels over the course of a single year. Everyday units such as miles or kilometres simply become too large and complicated to use when objects are trillions upon trillions of miles away. Objects in space are located at tremendous distances from our solar system.
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