Parsecs to light-years
Type a value in parsecs to see it in light-years straight away, or type in the second box to convert back.
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Processing and privacy: The result is calculated inside your browser and your data is not sent to any server.
How to use it
- Type the value in the parsecs box.
- Read the result in light-years as you type, and pick the precision you need.
- Swap the direction to convert back, or copy the result.
How it is calculated
ly = pc × 3.261563777
Multiply the value in parsecs by 3.261563777 to get light-years.
Example
To convert 25 pc to light-years: 25 × 3.261563777 = 81.5391 ly.
Conversion table
| Parsecs (pc) | Light-years (ly) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 3.26156 |
| 2 | 6.52313 |
| 3 | 9.78469 |
| 5 | 16.3078 |
| 10 | 32.6156 |
| 20 | 65.2313 |
| 25 | 81.5391 |
| 50 | 163.078 |
| 100 | 326.156 |
| 250 | 815.391 |
| 500 | 1,630.78 |
| 1,000 | 3,261.56 |
About the units
- Parsec
- A parsec is exactly 648000/π astronomical units by IAU definition, about 3.26 light-years.
- Light-year
- A light-year is the distance light travels in one Julian year of 365.25 days, exactly 9460730472580800 meters.
Limits and caveats
- Results are rounded for display and computed with the browser's floating point precision (about 15 significant digits).
- Both unit factors are exact by their official definitions.
Questions about this tool
How many light-years are in one parsec?
1 pc = 3.26156 ly exactly.
How do I convert parsecs to light-years?
Use ly = pc × 3.261563777. For example, 25 pc = 81.5391 ly.
How many parsecs are in one light-year?
1 ly = 0.306601 pc.
Are the inch, foot and mile factors exact or rounded?
They are exact by definition. Since the 1959 agreement one inch is exactly 2.54 cm, one foot 0.3048 m and one mile 1609.344 m.
What is the difference between a mile and a nautical mile?
A statute mile is 1609.344 meters and is used on roads. A nautical mile is 1852 meters and is used at sea and in aviation.