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Because to say a star is 4.3 light-year away easier than saying it's 40,680,000,000,000 kilometers away. Granted you could say it's 40.68 trillion kilometres but that method never really caught on.
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Expressing the conventional units for distance in light-year does not only provide a clear grasp of the idea of the distance that is long long way away, but it is also more convenient when you express the quantity in writing.
Wiki User
∙ 9y ago
Wiki User
∙ 6y agoA light year is the distance light travels in a year, going at about 186,000 miles per second. It is used to measure the distances in space, because they are too large to use standard measurements such as miles or kilometres.
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoA light year is a distance. It is the distance light will travel in one earth year. About 9 trillion kilometres.
The separation between stars is huge and between galaxies even greater so we need a very long unit to make some sense of these distances, even so we are still talking in many many light years, sometimes billions.
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoLight years are very convenient for expressing the enormous distance involved with space and astronomy. People have a realistic conception of the light year used to measure spatial distances.
1.0 light year = 9.5 x 10^15 m = 9.5 x 10^12 km = 5.9 x 10^12 miles
Wiki User
∙ 14y agothe distance are too great to measure in earth units
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoA light year is a unit of measure applied to the great distances between objects in space. A light year is the distance that light travels in one year (in a vacuum).
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoIts a distance measurement used to measure the distance between stars (within the local galaxy)
or between galaxies.
Wiki User
∙ 6y agoA light year is a distance (how far light can travel in one year ... about 6 trillion miles.
It's used because its a convenient distance measurement for the space between stars.
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoLIght years, as well as parsecs, are typically used for distances between stars or galaxies.
Wiki User
∙ 8y ago
We use light years when we're dealing with distances for which light years
produce the most convenient numbers.
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How light year is measured?
A light year is a unit of length used in Astronomy to define distance. One light year is equal to just under 6 trillion miles.
What is light year A parsec?
"Light-year" and "parsec" are two units of length used in astronomy - for distant objects. 1 parsec = 3.26 light-years. A light-year is defined as the distance that light travels in a year. A parsec is defined as the distance at which an object would have to be to have a parallax of one arc-second.
How is light years used in science measurement?
A light year is the distance light travels in a year. That is roughly 6,000,000,000,000 miles (six trillion miles). Thus such a unit is used only to measure the largest distances, those between stars and galaxies.
What is an light year?
The light year is used to measure distances that are greater than our solar system. It is the next form of measurement above the Au, or astronomical unit, or the distance between the Earth and and the sun. It is normally used to measure distances between stars or galaxies. The light year is equivalent to 5,878,625,373,183.61 miles or 9,460,730,472,580.81 km. See the related link for more information.
What is the longest light year?
A light-year is a measure of distance that a photon of light will travel in one year .
What is a light year used for?
A light year is a measure of distance and is the distance light travels in one year's time. The light year is used to describe the enormous distances between various objects in space. In one year, light travels about 6 trillion miles.
What is a light-year and when is used most conveniently?
Its the distance light travels in a year, and its used to measure stellar distances.
What is a measurement of distance based on the speed of light?
A unit that is commonly used in astronomy is the light-year - the distance light travels in a year.
How light year is measured?
A light year is a unit of length used in Astronomy to define distance. One light year is equal to just under 6 trillion miles.
Why a light year used in astronomy?
Because of the vast distances in space and a light year is the distance of light travelling at 186,000 miiles per second in one year.
What time period is light year used?
A light year is NOT a period of time. It is a distance of about 5.86 trillion miles.
What is a light year and why do scientist use it?
A light year is a measure of how far light can travel in one year. It is a phenomenal distance, and is used to describe how far away stars are from us.
When is a parsec used?
Parsecs are used as units of measurement for the enormous distances in space. One parsec is roughly 3.3 times greater in distance than one light year. A light year is the distance light travels in one year in a vacuum.
What is the distance used to calculate light-years?
Light-year is the distance in this case. It is the distance light travels in a year, and is equal to about 9.5 x 1012 kilometers.
Which unit of measurement uses the distance light travels in one year 9470000000000?
The distance light travels in one year is called a light-year. To get the number 9,470,000,000,000, the unit used is the kilometer.
A unit of length used to measure how far light travels in one year is called?
A "Light Year".Roughly 5,878,700,000,000 miles .
What can you use light years for?
Light years are used to measure the great distances of space. One light year is about 5.86 trillion miles. This is the distance light travels in one year's time.
