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1. We know how fast light travels, therefore in 1 year it must travel a fixed distance. For this purpose astronomers use the Julian year of 365.25 days, making a light year 9.460730473 times 10 to the power 15 metres..

2. It is used as a unit of distance to describe distances of stars and galaxies, mainly because to express these distances in kilometres would give unmanageably large numbers.

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Q: How a light year is a measure of distance AND why it is necessary to use light years as a unit of measure?
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Related questions

If you are four years away from a place would you be 4 light years away?

No, 'years' is a measure of time and 'light years' is a measure of distance.


What unit of measure is used to measure the distance to the stars?

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Zero. Light years are a measure of distance, not time.


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Light years is a measure for distance, the distance light travels in one year. For the light to travel 587 light years, it takes 587 years.


How many light years are equal to 4.5 billion years?

A light year is a measure of distance, not time. It is the distance light travels in a year.


How many years in an one light years?

None. A light year is a measure of distance, not of time.


Convert 70000 light years to earth calendar year?

Light years is a measure of distance, not of time; it is the distance that light travels in one year.


What unit of distance used to measure items in space?

Light years: the distance that light travels in a year.


What do astromoners measure distance in between stars with?

light years


What unit would you use to measure the distances from stars?

To measure the distance of stars you have to measure by light years.


When should you use light years?

Light years are used to measure distance from Earth to distant stars and planets.


What does 6300 light years equal to in earth years?

A light year is a measure of distance not time. A light year is the distance light travels in one year. So for light to travel 6,300 light years, would take 6,300 years