Free Parsec to Light-Year Converter
Convert distances between parsecs and light-years. One parsec is the distance at which 1 AU subtends 1 arcsecond of parallax.
pc
Light-Years
3.2616 ly
Astronomical Units206,265 AU
Kilometres30,857,000,000,000 km
Light-Years vs Distance
Parsec Conversion
1 pc = 206 265 AU ≈ 3.2616 ly ≈ 3.0857 × 10¹³ km
Parsecs are the natural unit in stellar astronomy because they link directly to parallax measurement.
Example Calculation
Sirius is about 2.64 parsecs away.
- 01ly = 2.64 × 3.26156 = 8.610 ly
- 02AU = 2.64 × 206265 = 544 539 AU
- 03km = 2.64 × 3.0857e13 ≈ 8.146e13 km