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parsec
parsec [ par allax + sec ond], in astronomy, basic unit of length for measuring interstellar and intergalactic distances, equal to 206,265 times the distance from the earth to the sun, 3.26 light-years, or 3.08 × 10 13 km (about 19 million million mi). The distance in parsecs of an object from the earth is the reciprocal of the parallax of the object. The nearest star, Proxima Centauri, has a parallax of 0.763′′ of arc and a distance of about 1.31 parsecs. |
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"parsec." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "parsec." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-parsec.html "parsec." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-parsec.html |
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parsec
parsec (symbol pc) A basic unit of stellar distance, corresponding to a trigonometric parallax of one second of arc (1″). In other words, it is the distance at which one astronomical unit subtends an angle of one second of arc. One parsec equals 3.2616 light years, 206 265 astronomical units, or 30.857 × 1012 km. For distances on galactic and intergalactic scales, kiloparsec (kpc) and megaparsec (Mpc) are used. See also light year.
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"parsec." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "parsec." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-parsec.html "parsec." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-parsec.html |
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parsec
par·sec / ˈpärˌsek/ (abbr.: pc) • n. a unit of distance used in astronomy, equal to about 3.25 light years (3.08 × 1016 meters). One parsec corresponds to the distance at which the mean radius of the earth's orbit subtends an angle of one second of arc. |
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"parsec." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "parsec." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-parsec.html "parsec." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-parsec.html |
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parsec
parsec (pc) Distance at which a star would have a parallax of one second of arc; equivalent to 3.2616 light years, 206,265 astronomical units, or 3.0857 × 1013 km.
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"parsec." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "parsec." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-parsec.html "parsec." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-parsec.html |
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