A unit of length to measure the astronomical distance is explained on Facts about Light Years. One light year is accounted for 6 trillion miles or 9 trillion kilometers. The light year is defined as the distance of a light when travelling in a vacuum on a Julian year of 365.25 days based on the IAU or International Astronomical Unit. Even though it has the word year, it is a unit of distance, not a unit of time. Find out other interesting facts about light years below:
Facts about Light Years 1: the usage of light years
In the popular science and non-specialist publications, the term light year is used to show the distance of galaxies, stars and other astronomical objects.
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Facts about Light Years 2: the professional astronomy
The term parsec is used to call the unit in professional astrometry. The term parsec is symbolized in pc. It equals with 3.26 light-years.
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Facts about Light Years 3: the Julian year or Gregorian year
The Gregorian year is measured at 365.2425 days, while the Julian year is measured at 365.25 days. The light year applies the Julian year. The speed of light is measured at 299792458 meter per second.
Facts about Light Years 4: the abbreviation of light year
The abbreviation ly is used to call light-year by IAU. The abbreviation of l.y. is used in ISO 80000.
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Facts about Light Years 5: other symbols of light year
In German, the light year is abbreviated in Lj. It is symbolized as al in Spanish and French.
Facts about Light Years 6: the multiples of light years
The term ly is used to call one light year. If you want to define 1,000 light years, use the term Kly for one kilolight year. If it has the distance 1,000,000 light years, use the term Mly for megalight-year. The term gigalight-year or Gly is defined as 1,000,000,000 light years.
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Facts about Light Years 7: the popularity of light year
The light year is more popular to use for the interstellar and intergalactic space even though the term parsec is more common among the modern astronomers.
Facts about Light Years 8: the appearance of light year
In 1838, Friedrich Bessel was successfully measured the distance of a star called 61 Cygni. Few years after his measurement, the light year appeared.
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Facts about Light Years 9: the speed of light
In 1838, the people had not realized the speed of light.
Light Years
Facts about Light Years 10: the dispute related to the light year
The term light year was considered odd by a contemporary German astronomical book.
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