Parsecs are generally used to measure shorter distances within the Milky Way (imagine the Kessel Run again), while multiples of parsecs are used for measuring larger scales of distance within the universe and, of course, change the term to kiloparsecs, megaparsecs, and gigaparsecs depending on if you are measuring within the Milky Way and beyond our galaxy. It is a unit that is preferred in astronomy and astrophysics, although the popular term light-year (Buzz Lightyear, anyone?) is prominent as well in many popular science texts and is used commonly. It comes from the parallax of one arc second: parsec, and was used to make the calculations of astronomical distances from raw observational data easier for scientists.

The term parsec was coined by British astronomer Herbert Hall Turner in 1913. (Other than it sounds different and cooler than say, miles or kilometers.) So it makes sense that in the Star Wars universe, they would measure in parsecs. Basically used for objects in space particularly. In particular, a unit of length used to measure large distances of astronomical objects outside of the Solar System. Parsecs are actually a unit of distance rather than time.

Well, if you are like me and aren’t much of a scientist, you may be surprised to know that a parsec is a real actual measurement and is not just a made up term in Star Wars.

Whats a parsec star wars