Noun: parsec 'paa(r),sek
- A unit of astronomical length originally based on the distance from Earth at which stellar parallax is 1 second of arc; equivalent to roughly 3.262 light years, now defined as exactly 648000/pi astronomical units
"The nearest star is about 1.3 parsecs from Earth";
- secpar
Derived forms: parsecs
Type of: astronomy unit
Encyclopedia: Parsec