Editing Parsec (section)

=== Parsecs and kiloparsecs ===
Distances expressed in parsecs (pc) include distances between nearby stars, such as those in the same [[spiral arm]] or [[globular cluster]]. A distance of {{Convert|1000|pc|ly|sigfig=4}} is denoted by the kiloparsec (kpc). Astronomers typically use kiloparsecs to express distances between parts of a [[galaxy]] or within [[galaxy group|groups of galaxies]].<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Andrew May |date=2022-07-29 |title=What is a parsec? Definition and calculation |url=https://www.space.com/parsec |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=Space.com |language=en}}</ref> So, for example:
* [[Proxima Centauri]], the nearest known star to Earth other than the Sun, is about {{Convert|1.3|pc|ly|sigfig=3}} away by direct parallax measurement.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How Do We Know How Far Away the Stars Are? |url=https://www.britannica.com/story/how-do-we-know-how-far-away-the-stars-are#:~:text=The%20closest%20star,%20Proxima%20Centauri,would%20take%20950%20million%20years. |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>
* The distance to the [[open cluster]] [[Pleiades]] is {{Val|130|10|u=pc}} ({{Val|420|30|u=ly}}) from us per ''[[Hipparcos]]'' parallax measurement.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Pleiades Star Cluster {{!}} Royal Observatory Greenwich Astronomy Guides |url=https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/what-are-pleiades#:~:text=The%20Pleiades%20(pronounced%20'Ply-,light%20years%20away%20from%20Earth. |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=www.rmg.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>
* The [[Galactic Center|centre]] of the [[Milky Way]] is more than {{Convert|8|kpc|ly}} from the Earth and the Milky Way is roughly {{Convert|34|kpc|ly}} across.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-01-10 |title=Scientists Take Viewers to the Center of the Milky Way - NASA |url=https://www.nasa.gov/universe/scientists-take-viewers-to-the-center-of-the-milky-way/#:~:text=The%20Earth%20is%20located%20about,the%20center%20of%20the%20Galaxy. |access-date=2025-01-16 |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[ESO 383-76]], one of the [[List of largest galaxies|largest known galaxies]], has a diameter of {{Convert|540.9|kpc|e6ly|1|abbr=unit}}.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 September 2022 |title=Eso 383-76 Galaxy Facts, Distance & Size |url=https://www.universeguide.com/galaxy/eso-383-76 |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=Universe Guide |language=en-us}}</ref>
* The [[Andromeda Galaxy]] ([[Messier object|M31]]) is about {{Convert|780|kpc|e6ly|abbr=unit}} away from the Earth.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Galaxy Next Door |url=https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/galaxy-next-door/#:~:text=At%20approximately%202.5%20million%20light,spans%20260,000%20light-years%20across. |access-date=2025-01-16 |language=en-US}}</ref>