Convert Parsec to Yard
Convert parsecs to yards instantly. 1 parsec = 3.374538e+16 yard — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Yard to Parsec converter for the reverse conversion.
Units explained
Parsec
A parsec (parallax-second) is a distance unit equal to 648,000/π astronomical units — approximately 3.086×10¹⁶ m (3.26 light years). It is the standard distance unit in professional astronomy.
Defined as the distance at which one astronomical unit subtends an angle of one arcsecond. IAU Resolution B2 in 2015 made this an exact definition: 1 pc = (648,000/π) AU.
Parsecs are used in professional astronomy for stellar distances (Proxima Centauri ≈ 1.3 pc), galactic-scale distances (with prefixes kiloparsec and megaparsec), and parallax measurements. Standard since the early 20th century.
Concept introduced by Herbert Hall Turner in 1913; exact definition via the AU adopted by IAU Resolution B2 in 2015.
Yard
A yard is an Imperial and US customary unit of length equal to 3 feet or exactly 0.9144 meters. It is used for medium distances, particularly in athletics and fabric/textile measurement.
The yard's origin is contested but traditionally attributed to the length from the tip of King Henry I's nose to the end of his outstretched thumb. It was standardized in English law from the medieval period and definitively fixed at 0.9144 m exactly by the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement.
Yards are used in American football (10 yards for a first down), golf course distances, fabric and carpet sales in the US, and short-distance running events. The UK uses yards informally and on road signs for short distances.
Standardized in English law from the Middle Ages; fixed at 0.9144 m exactly by the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement.
Parsec to Yard conversion formula
The relationship between parsecs and yards:
To convert parsecs to yards, multiply the value in parsecs by 3.374538e+16. To reverse, multiply yards by 2.963369e-17.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in yards updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Yard to Parsec converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert parsecs to yards
- Write down the value in parsecs (pc).
- Multiply that value by the factor 3.374538e+16.
- The product is the equivalent value in yards (yd).
- To reverse, multiply the yard value by 2.963369e-17.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 pc to yd:
1 × 3.374538e+16 = 3.374538e+16 yd
Example 2 — Convert 100 pc to yd:
100 × 3.374538e+16 = 3.374538e+18 yd
Parsec to Yard conversion table
Standard reference values for converting parsecs to yards:
| Parsec [pc] | Yard [yd] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 3.374538e+14 |
| 0.1 | 3.374538e+15 |
| 1 | 3.374538e+16 |
| 2 | 6.749076e+16 |
| 3 | 1.012361e+17 |
| 4 | 1.349815e+17 |
| 5 | 1.687269e+17 |
| 10 | 3.374538e+17 |
| 20 | 6.749076e+17 |
| 30 | 1.012361e+18 |
| 40 | 1.349815e+18 |
| 50 | 1.687269e+18 |
| 100 | 3.374538e+18 |
| 500 | 1.687269e+19 |
| 1000 | 3.374538e+19 |
Frequently asked questions
How many yards is 1 parsec?
How do I convert parsecs to yards?
How do I convert yards back to parsecs?
How many yards is 100 parsecs?
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Imperial / US Customary (4 units)
Sources & references
Conversion factor (1 pc = 3.374538e+16 yd) 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.