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Astrophysics & Cosmology FAQ

The unit parsec equals approximately:

3.26 light-years. 1 parsec = 3.0857 × 10¹⁶ m ≈ 3.26 light-years. It's the distance at which 1 AU subtends 1 arcsecond.

Short Answer

3.26 light-years is the best answer.

Astrophysics questions often combine observation with first-principles physics. The winning move is to connect the measurement being made, such as luminosity, spectrum, redshift, or orbit, to the physical model behind it.

1 parsec = 3.0857 × 10¹⁶ m ≈ 3.26 light-years. It's the distance at which 1 AU subtends 1 arcsecond.

Why This Answer Is Correct

This is a Easy-level question in Astrophysics & Cosmology. The prompt is really testing whether you can connect the concept to its defining physical relationship instead of picking a nearby-but-wrong term.

Good astrophysics reasoning always asks what the telescope actually measured and what physical quantity that measurement traces.

Choices At A Glance

  • A. 1 light-year
  • B. 3.26 light-years
  • C. 100 light-years
  • D. 1 AU

When similar options appear on an exam, eliminate the ones that break the core law, use the wrong units, or confuse a definition with a consequence.

Topic Snapshot

Topic: Astrophysics & Cosmology

Difficulty: Easy

Best next move: Re-state the governing law in your own words, then solve one more example from the same topic before moving on.