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Pace to Parsec Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool

Convert paces to parsecs with our free online length converter.

Pace to Parsec Calculator

Pace
Parsec

How to Use the Calculator:

  1. Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Pace).
  2. The converted value in Parsec will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
  3. Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Length category.
  4. Click the swap button (⇌) to reverse the conversion direction.

How to Convert Pace to Parsec

Converting Pace to Parsec involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.

Formula:

1 Pace = 2.4695e-17 parsecs

Example Calculation:

Convert 10 paces: 10 × 2.4695e-17 = 2.4695e-16 parsecs

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 Pace and a Parsec?

The Pace is a unit of length based on the distance covered by a human step. Its definition is highly variable and depends heavily on context, often referring to either a single step or a double step.

  • Single Step Pace: Often informally estimated as the distance from the heel of one foot to the heel of the next foot in a normal walking stride. Common estimations range from 2.5 to 3 feet (ft) or approximately 0.75 to 0.9 meters (m). This is sometimes simply called a 'step' or 'stride'.
  • Double Step Pace (Roman Pace): Historically, the most significant definition was the Roman passus, which measured the distance from the heel of one foot to the point where the same foot touches the ground again (i.e., two steps). This was standardized as 5 Roman feet, roughly 1.48 meters or 4.86 feet.

Due to its inherent variability and dependence on individual gait and terrain, the pace is not a standardized unit for precise measurement.

The Parsec (symbol pc) is a unit of length used to measure the enormous distances to astronomical objects outside the Solar System. One parsec is defined as the distance at which one astronomical unit (AU) – the average distance between the Earth and the Sun – subtends an angle of one arcsecond (1/3600th of a degree). This corresponds to approximately:

  • 3.0857 × 10¹⁶ meters (m)
  • 30.857 trillion kilometers (km)
  • 19.174 trillion miles (mi)
  • 206,264.8 astronomical units (AU)
  • 3.26156 light-years (ly)

It is derived directly from the method of trigonometric parallax used by astronomers to measure stellar distances.

Note: The Pace is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Parsec belongs to the imperial/US customary system.

History of the Pace and Parsec

The pace is one of the most ancient and intuitive units of length, used across numerous cultures due to its direct link to human locomotion.

  • Ancient Rome: The Romans formalized the passus (double step) as 5 pedes (Roman feet). This unit was fundamental to their system, with 1000 passus forming the Roman mile (mille passus), which heavily influenced the definition of the mile in later systems.
  • Military Usage: Throughout history, armies used paces (both single and double) for marching cadence, estimating distances, and measuring fortifications or camp layouts. Standardized step lengths were often drilled.
  • Informal Measurement: Before widespread standardized rulers and tapes, pacing was a common way for individuals to estimate lengths and distances for land, construction, or travel.

The pace gradually fell out of official use with the rise of standardized systems like the Imperial system (feet, yards) and the Metric system (meters), which offered greater precision and consistency.

The concept of measuring stellar distances via parallax existed long before the unit itself. The term "parsec" was coined by the British astronomer Herbert Hall Turner in 1913. He sought a convenient unit for astronomers that directly reflected the observational method. The name is a portmanteau derived from "parallax of one arcsecond". It quickly gained acceptance within the astronomical community due to its practical connection to parallax measurements, which were (and still are) a fundamental way to determine distances to nearby stars.

Common Uses for paces and parsecs

Explore the typical applications for both Pace (imperial/US) and Parsec (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.

Common Uses for paces

While obsolete for official measurements, the pace still finds some use:

  • Rough Estimation: Used informally to get a quick approximation of distances, such as the length of a room, a garden plot, or walking distances in hiking or orienteering.
  • Military & Marching Bands: Concepts related to pace length and cadence remain relevant in drilling and formation marching.
  • Historical Context: Understanding the pace (especially the Roman passus) is crucial for interpreting historical texts, military accounts, and measurements related to ancient structures or distances.
  • Exercise & Fitness: Step counters (pedometers) measure activity in terms of steps, which are essentially single paces.

Common Uses for parsecs

The parsec is the preferred unit of distance in professional astronomy and astrophysics:

  • Stellar Distances: Measuring distances to nearby stars using parallax.
  • Galactic Structure: Describing distances within the Milky Way galaxy (often using kiloparsecs, kpc, where 1 kpc = 1000 pc). For example, the Sun is about 8 kpc from the Galactic Center.
  • Extragalactic Distances: Measuring distances to other galaxies and galaxy clusters (often using megaparsecs, Mpc, where 1 Mpc = 1,000,000 pc). The Hubble constant, describing the expansion of the universe, is typically expressed in (km/s)/Mpc.
  • Cosmology: Discussing large-scale structures and distances in the universe (using Mpc and sometimes gigaparsecs, Gpc, where 1 Gpc = 1000 Mpc).

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions About Pace (pace)

How long is a pace?

There is no single standard length for a "pace".

  • An informal single step pace is often estimated at 2.5 to 3 feet (0.75 to 0.9 meters).
  • The historical Roman pace (passus) was a double step, standardized at 5 Roman feet (approx. 1.48 meters or 4.86 feet). Always clarify which definition is being used.

What is the difference between a pace and a Roman pace?

A "pace" is ambiguous. It can mean a single step (variable length, ~2.5-3 ft) or a double step. The Roman pace (passus) specifically refers to the double step standardized at 5 Roman feet (~1.48 m).

What is the difference between a pace and a step or stride?

Often, "step" or "stride" refers to the distance covered by a single movement of one foot forward (heel-to-heel or toe-to-toe). "Pace" can mean this, but it can also refer to the Roman double step (passus). The ambiguity makes "step" or "stride" slightly clearer when referring to a single foot movement.

How many paces are in a mile?

This depends on the definition of "pace":

  • Using the Roman pace (passus): The Roman mile (mille passus) was defined as 1000 paces (double steps).
  • Using an informal single step pace: If we estimate a single step pace at 2.5 feet, a statute mile (5280 feet) would contain 5280 / 2.5 = 2112 single paces. If estimated at 3 feet, it would be 5280 / 3 = 1760 single paces. This is highly approximate.

Is the pace an SI unit?

No, the pace is not an SI unit. It is an ancient, non-standardized, anthropomorphic unit. The SI unit for length is the meter (m).

Is the pace still used today?

The pace is not used for any official, scientific, or trade measurements today due to its lack of standardization. Its use is confined to informal distance estimation, historical study, and contexts like military drilling or fitness tracking (as steps).

About Parsec (pc)

What does 'Parsec' stand for?

Parsec is a blend of "parallax of one arcsecond". It represents the distance at which the parallax angle of a star is exactly one second of arc.

How is a parsec defined?

It's defined based on trigonometry. Imagine a right-angled triangle in space where the short side is the Earth-Sun distance (1 AU). The parsec is the length of the adjacent side when the angle at the distant star (the parallax angle) is exactly one arcsecond.

Is a Parsec bigger than a Light Year?

Yes, one parsec is significantly larger than one light-year.

  • 1 Parsec ≈ 3.26 light-years

How many meters or kilometers are in a parsec?

One parsec is approximately:

  • 3.0857 × 10¹⁶ meters
  • 30.857 trillion kilometers

How many Astronomical Units (AU) are in a parsec?

One parsec is equal to approximately 206,265 AU. This number arises directly from the definition involving radians and arcseconds (specifically, the number of arcseconds in a radian).

Why do astronomers use parsecs instead of light-years?

While both are used, parsecs are often preferred in professional contexts because:

  1. Direct Observational Link: The parsec is derived directly from the parallax angle, a primary method for measuring distance.
  2. Historical Convention: It became the standard unit early in the development of stellar distance measurement.
  3. Convenience: Multiples like kpc and Mpc provide convenient scales for galactic and extragalactic distances.
  4. Definition Stability: The definition of a light-year depends slightly on the definition of a "year" (e.g., Julian year), whereas the parsec is based on the fixed AU and geometric angles.

Is the parsec an SI unit?

No, the parsec is not an SI unit. The SI unit for length is the meter (m). However, the parsec (along with the astronomical unit and light-year) is recognized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) and is widely accepted for use in astronomy.

Conversion Table: Pace to Parsec

Pace (pace)Parsec (pc)
10
50
100
250
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1000
5000
1,0000

All Length Conversions

Meter to KilometerMeter to HectometerMeter to DecimeterMeter to CentimeterMeter to MillimeterMeter to InchMeter to FootMeter to YardMeter to MileMeter to Nautical MileMeter to MicrometerMeter to NanometerMeter to Light YearMeter to Astronomical UnitMeter to ParsecMeter to AngstromMeter to Point (Typography)Meter to Mil/ThouMeter to FathomMeter to FurlongMeter to Link (Gunter's)Meter to PaceMeter to SpanMeter to DigitMeter to Cable LengthMeter to EllMeter to FingerMeter to Roman MileMeter to StadionMeter to Chi (Chinese)Meter to Shaku (Japanese)Meter to Li (Chinese)Meter to ToiseMeter to BoltMeter to RopeMeter to SmootMeter to SajeneMeter to KenMeter to WaMeter to VaraMeter to AlnMeter to Cubit (Royal/Egyptian)Meter to VerstaMeter to ArpentMeter to Ri (Japanese)Meter to KlafterMeter to YojanaMeter to SkeinKilometer to MeterKilometer to HectometerKilometer to DecimeterKilometer to CentimeterKilometer to MillimeterKilometer to InchKilometer to FootKilometer to YardKilometer to MileKilometer to Nautical MileKilometer to MicrometerKilometer to NanometerKilometer to Light YearKilometer to Astronomical UnitKilometer to ParsecKilometer to AngstromKilometer to Point (Typography)Kilometer to Mil/ThouKilometer to FathomKilometer to FurlongKilometer to Link (Gunter's)Kilometer to PaceKilometer to SpanKilometer to DigitKilometer to Cable LengthKilometer to EllKilometer to FingerKilometer to Roman MileKilometer to StadionKilometer to Chi (Chinese)Kilometer to Shaku (Japanese)Kilometer to Li (Chinese)Kilometer to ToiseKilometer to BoltKilometer to RopeKilometer to SmootKilometer to SajeneKilometer to KenKilometer to WaKilometer to VaraKilometer to AlnKilometer to Cubit (Royal/Egyptian)Kilometer to VerstaKilometer to ArpentKilometer to Ri (Japanese)Kilometer to KlafterKilometer to YojanaKilometer to SkeinHectometer to MeterHectometer to KilometerHectometer to DecimeterHectometer to CentimeterHectometer to MillimeterHectometer to InchHectometer to FootHectometer to YardHectometer to MileHectometer to Nautical MileHectometer to MicrometerHectometer to NanometerHectometer to Light YearHectometer to Astronomical UnitHectometer to ParsecHectometer to AngstromHectometer to Point (Typography)Hectometer to Mil/ThouHectometer to FathomHectometer to FurlongHectometer to Link (Gunter's)Hectometer to PaceHectometer to SpanHectometer to Digit

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