Convert Kiloparsec to Meter
Convert kiloparsecs to meters instantly. 1 kiloparsec = 3.085678e+19 meter — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Meter to Kiloparsec converter for the reverse conversion.
Units explained
Kiloparsec
A kiloparsec is a distance unit equal to 1,000 parsecs (about 3.09×10¹⁹ m). It is used to express galactic-scale distances.
Combines the metric-style prefix kilo- with the parsec. Standardised in astronomy as the natural unit for distances within and between galaxies.
Kiloparsecs are used to express galactic radii (the Milky Way is roughly 8 kpc from center to Sun), galactic-cluster scales, and distances within the Local Group.
Exact via the parsec; standardised by IAU 2015 along with parsec.
Meter
The meter is the SI base unit of length. Since 2019, the meter has been defined by fixing the numerical value of the speed of light in vacuum to exactly 299,792,458 meters per second. Every other SI length unit derives from the meter.
The meter was originally defined in 1793 by the French Academy of Sciences as one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole along a meridian through Paris. It has been redefined multiple times — by physical prototype, then by atomic transitions, and finally in 2019 by fundamental physical constants.
The meter is the international standard for length in science, engineering, construction, athletics, and everyday measurement in metric countries. It underpins definitions of area (m²), volume (m³), and most derived SI units.
Established 1793 in France; ratified internationally via the Metre Convention 1875; redefined in 1960, 1983, and most recently 2019 when the SI redefinition fixed it to the speed of light.
Kiloparsec to Meter conversion formula
The relationship between kiloparsecs and meters:
To convert kiloparsecs to meters, multiply the value in kiloparsecs by 3.085678e+19. To reverse, multiply meters by 3.240779e-20.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in meters updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Meter to Kiloparsec converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert kiloparsecs to meters
- Write down the value in kiloparsecs (kpc).
- Multiply that value by the factor 3.085678e+19.
- The product is the equivalent value in meters (m).
- To reverse, multiply the meter value by 3.240779e-20.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 kpc to m:
1 × 3.085678e+19 = 3.085678e+19 m
Example 2 — Convert 100 kpc to m:
100 × 3.085678e+19 = 3.085678e+21 m
Kiloparsec to Meter conversion table
Standard reference values for converting kiloparsecs to meters:
| Kiloparsec [kpc] | Meter [m] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 3.085678e+17 |
| 0.1 | 3.085678e+18 |
| 1 | 3.085678e+19 |
| 2 | 6.171355e+19 |
| 3 | 9.257033e+19 |
| 4 | 1.234271e+20 |
| 5 | 1.542839e+20 |
| 10 | 3.085678e+20 |
| 20 | 6.171355e+20 |
| 30 | 9.257033e+20 |
| 40 | 1.234271e+21 |
| 50 | 1.542839e+21 |
| 100 | 3.085678e+21 |
| 500 | 1.542839e+22 |
| 1000 | 3.085678e+22 |
Frequently asked questions
How many meters is 1 kiloparsec?
How do I convert kiloparsecs to meters?
How do I convert meters back to kiloparsecs?
How many meters is 100 kiloparsecs?
Popular length unit conversions
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Metric / SI (4 units)
Imperial / US Customary (4 units)
Astronomical (8 units)
Sources & references
Conversion factor (1 kpc = 3.085678e+19 m) verified against the following authoritative sources:
- BIPM — The International System of Units (SI Brochure 9th ed.)
Official BIPM publication defining the seven SI base units (including the meter) and the rules for their use. The global authority on units of measurement.
- NIST — Guide to the SI
US National Institute of Standards and Technology reference covering the SI base and derived units with definitions and usage rules for US technical practice.
- NIST Special Publication 811 — Guide for the Use of the International System of Units
Detailed NIST guide covering exact conversion factors between SI and US customary units along with formatting and rounding conventions.
- NIST — Refinement of values for the yard and pound (Federal Register 1959)
The treaty (signed by US
- International Astronomical Union — System of Astronomical Constants
The IAU defines astronomical units including the AU (149597870700 m exactly) light-year and parsec used in astronomy and astrophysics.