Parsec

A parsec was an astronomical measure of length that stood for "parallax arc-second". It was based on the Earth method of measuring interstellar distances using trigonometry. A star located one parsec away from an observer would have a "parallax angle" of one arc-second.

Based on this, one parsec was exactly equal to 360×60×60 / 2π au (206,264.8 au or ∼3.26 light years).

Comparative list of lengths Edit

• The USS Enterprise-D was 2.2 milli-parsecs from the USS Lantree. There were no other vessels within 2 parsecs of there. (TNG: "Unnatural Selection")

• The USS Enterprise was one-sixteenth of a parsec from 892-IV when it identified the SS Beagle debris. (TOS: "Bread and Circuses")

• The Enterprise used sensors to scan a one-half parsec radius, then increased to a one parsec radius. (TOS: "The Enterprise Incident")

• The Enterprise-D was supposedly thrown 0.54 parsecs from their position near the Paxans' homeworld. (TNG: "Clues")

• The Enterprise was to pass one parsec from a Klingon outpost. Pavel Chekov thought this was "close enough to smell them." (TOS: "The Trouble with Tribbles")

• The Varro generational ship passed within one parsec of the Natori system more than two months before encountering the USS Voyager. (VOY: "The Disease")

• According to Data's reading of inertial guidance, the Enterprise-D traveled 1.4 parsecs in Nagilum's void without finding any sign of an exit. (TNG: "Where Silence Has Lease")

• Zalkon was 2.3 parsecs distant from where the Zalkonian warship met the Enterprise-D. (TNG: "Transfigurations")

• When the interphase began, the Enterprise was thrown 2.72 parsecs from where the Tholians' field captured them. (TOS: "The Tholian Web")

• When Tom Paris broke the warp 10 barrier, Harry Kim was unable to locate his shuttlecraft on sensors within 5 parsecs of the USS Voyager's position. (VOY: "Threshold")

• Chardis was discovered 5 parsecs from his homeworld of Mislen. (VOY: "The Swarm")

• In 2371, Neelix protested Dr. Ma'Bor Jetrel's request to examine him for metremia, saying he didn't want the doctor within 10 parsecs of him. (VOY: "Jetrel")

• Attenpting to recover Voyager's stolen main computer processor, Kathryn Janeway told Tau she had a client who needed a computer to run a colony about 20 parsecs distant. (VOY: "Concerning Flight")

• The regions of space known as 2279 PL and 2466 PM were both located approximately 22.3 parsecs beyond Cestus III and the Federation's chart limits during the late 23rd century. (TOS: "Arena")

• The Vega Nine probe traveled 23 parsecs beyond the borders of the Federation, as well as any manned expeditions, to explore the Beta Stromgren system. (TNG: "Tin Man")

• All Starfleet units and personnel were evacuated from an area covering 100 parsecs from the planet where Lazarus was found. (TOS: "The Alternative Factor")

• The Metrons hurled the Enterprise 500 parsecs distant from their previous location. (TOS: "Arena")

• At 98% of its pre-temporal flux strength, the Krenim Imperium spanned 5,000 parsecs of the Delta Quadrant. (VOY: "Year of Hell")

See also Edit

• Cubic parsec

External link Edit

• Parsec at Wikipedia