Parsec: meaning, definitions and examples

๐ŸŒŒ
Add to dictionary

parsec

 

[ หˆpษ‘หrหŒsษ›k ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

astronomy measurement

A parsec is a unit of measurement used in astronomy to describe distances to stars and galaxies. It is defined as the distance at which one astronomical unit subtends an angle of one arcsecond. The term 'parsec' is derived from a combination of 'parallax' and 'arcsecond'. It is equal to about 3.26 light-years or about 3.086 ร— 10^13 kilometers. The use of parsecs helps astronomers quantify vast distances in space more easily.

Synonyms

astronomical unit, light-year.

Examples of usage

  • The nearest star is about 1.3 parsecs away.
  • Distances to galaxies are often measured in parsecs.
  • Astronomers use parsecs to determine the scale of the universe.

Translations

Translations of the word "parsec" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น parsec

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคชเคพเคฐเฅเคธเฅ‡เค•

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Parsec

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ parsec

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฟะฐั€ัะตะบ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ parsec

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใƒ‘ใƒผใ‚ปใ‚ฏ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท parsec

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ parsec

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท parsec

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ํŒŒ์„น

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุจุงุฑุณููƒ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ parsec

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ parsec

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ็ง’ๅทฎ่ท

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ parsec

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ parsec

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฟะฐั€ัะตะบ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒžแƒแƒ แƒกแƒ”แƒ™แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ parsec

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ parsec

Etymology

The term 'parsec' was first coined in 1913 by the British astronomer Herbert Hall Turner. It was created to provide a more practical measure of astronomical distances, stemming from the observation of stellar parallax, which is the apparent shift in position of a star due to the Earth's orbit. The parsec was developed as a result of the need for astronomers to have a reliable method for quantifying the distances between celestial bodies. The reliance on arcseconds as a basis for measurement allowed for greater precision in calculations and communications among astronomers. The introduction of this unit significantly improved the field of astrometry, which is essential for understanding the structure and scale of the universe.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #39,037, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.