Kilometer to Light Year Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert kilometers to light years with our free online length converter.
Kilometer to Light Year Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Kilometer).
- The converted value in Light Year will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
- Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Length category.
- Click the swap button (⇌) to reverse the conversion direction.
How to Convert Kilometer to Light Year
Converting Kilometer to Light Year involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Kilometer = 1.0570e-13 light yearsExample Calculation:
Convert 10 kilometers: 10 × 1.0570e-13 = 1.0570e-12 light years
Disclaimer: For Reference Only
These conversion results are provided for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the precision of these results, especially for conversions involving extremely large or small numbers which may be subject to the inherent limitations of standard computer floating-point arithmetic.
Not for professional use. Results should be verified before use in any critical application. View our Terms of Service for more information.
What is a Kilometer and a Light Year?
The kilometer is a unit of length in the metric system equal to one thousand meters (1,000 m). It is commonly used to measure geographic distances.
A light-year is a unit of astronomical distance equal to the distance that light travels in one Julian year in a vacuum (approximately 9.461 trillion kilometers or 5.879 trillion miles).
Note: The Kilometer is part of the metric (SI) system, primarily used globally in science and trade. The Light Year belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Kilometer and Light Year
Derived directly from the meter, the kilometer was established as part of the metric system in the late 18th century to provide a larger, convenient unit for measuring longer distances, such as those between cities or the lengths of roads.
The concept was first used by Friedrich Bessel in 1838 when measuring the distance to the star 61 Cygni.
Common Uses for kilometers and light years
Explore the typical applications for both Kilometer (metric) and Light Year (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for kilometers
- Geography & Travel: Measuring distances between geographical locations (cities, countries).
- Transportation: Road signs indicating distances and speed limits (km/h) in metric countries.
- Mapping: Measuring the length of roads, rivers, or coastlines.
- Athletics: Athletic events like long-distance running (e.g., 5k, 10k, marathon).
- Logistics: Calculating travel times and fuel efficiency.
Common Uses for light years
- Measuring distances to stars and galaxies
- Expressing the vast scale of the universe in astronomy
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Kilometer (km)
How many meters are in a kilometer?
There are exactly 1,000 meters (m) in 1 kilometer (km).
What does 'kilo' mean in kilometer?
The prefix 'kilo' denotes one thousand (1,000).
Is a kilometer longer or shorter than a mile?
A kilometer is shorter than a mile. One mile is approximately 1.609 kilometers.
About Light Year (ly)
Is a light-year a unit of time or distance?
A light-year (ly) is a unit of distance, not time. It represents the distance light travels in one year.
How far is a light-year in kilometers and miles?
One light-year is approximately 9.461 trillion kilometers (9.461 x 10^12 km) or 5.879 trillion miles (5.879 x 10^12 mi).
What is the closest star to Earth in light-years?
Excluding the Sun, the closest star system to Earth is Alpha Centauri, which is about 4.37 light-years away.
Conversion Table: Kilometer to Light Year
| Kilometer (km) | Light Year (ly) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0 |
| 5 | 0 |
| 10 | 0 |
| 25 | 0 |
| 50 | 0 |
| 100 | 0 |
| 500 | 0 |
| 1,000 | 0 |
All Length Conversions
Other Units from Length
- Meter (m)
- Hectometer (hm)
- Decimeter (dm)
- Centimeter (cm)
- Millimeter (mm)
- Inch (in)
- Foot (ft)
- Yard (yd)
- Mile (mi)
- Nautical Mile (NM)
- Micrometer (μm)
- Nanometer (nm)
- Astronomical Unit (AU)
- Parsec (pc)
- Angstrom (Å)
- Point (Typography) (pt)
- Mil/Thou (mil)
- Fathom (fath)
- Furlong (fur)
- Link (Gunter's) (li)
- Pace (pace)
- Span (span)
- Digit (digit)
- Cable Length (cb)
- Ell (ell)
- Finger (finger)
- Roman Mile (m.p.)
- Stadion (stadion)
- Chi (Chinese) (chi)
- Shaku (Japanese) (shaku)
- Li (Chinese) (li)
- Toise (toise)
- Bolt (bolt)
- Rope (rope)
- Smoot (smoot)
- Sajene (sajene)
- Ken (ken)
- Wa (wa)
- Vara (vara)
- Aln (aln)
- Cubit (Royal/Egyptian) (cubit)
- Versta (versta)
- Arpent (arpent)
- Ri (Japanese) (ri)
- Klafter (klafter)
- Yojana (yojana)
- Skein (skein)