Astronomy Distance Converter
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Enter a value and pick the source and target units; the result updates live.
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Astronomical distances are too large for everyday units, so we use the astronomical unit (AU = Earth–Sun distance ≈ 1.496×10¹¹ m), the light-year (distance light travels in a year ≈ 9.461×10¹⁵ m) and the parsec (≈ 3.086×10¹⁶ m).
These conversions are useful in astrophysics, RF (for very long baseline or space-link calculations), and general science. The values use IAU-standard constants.
Common applications
Converting a star's distance from light-years to parsecs; reading a planet's orbital radius in AU; comparing interstellar distances in parsecs.
Frequently asked questions
1 AU = the average Earth–Sun distance ≈ 149,597,870,700 m.
1 light-year ≈ 9.461×10¹² km.
1 parsec ≈ 3.26 light-years.