parsec
parsec
Definition
par·sec (pär′sek′)
noun
a unit of distance, usually used to measure the distance to a star, equal to 206,265 astronomical units (3.0857 x 10 kilometers or 1.92 x 10 miles or 3.2616 light years): it is the distance at which an angle of 0° 0′ 1″ (one second of arc) would form a triangle having an opposite side with a length of one astronomical unit: abbrev. pc
Etymology: par(allax) + sec(ond)
parsec
Usage Examples
Adjective modifier
- few: The expected detection of the central " odd " image will tell us about the mass profiles of galaxies in their central few parsecs.
- cubic: In the dense center of the cluster, the star density can increase from 100 to 1000 per cubic parsec.
- central: The expected detection of the central " odd " image will tell us about the mass profiles of galaxies in their central few parsecs.
Browse dictionary entries near parsec
- parse
- parry
- parrotfish
- parrot fever
- parrot
- Parrish
- Parrington
- parricide
- parrel
- parramatta
- Parsee
- parsimonious
- parsimony
- parsley
- parsleyed
- parsnip
- parson
- Parson, Jeffrey Lee Case
- parsonage
- Parsons
