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One '''light year''' is the distance that [[light]] travels in one [[Earth]] [[year]]. It is approximately equal to 9.46{{exp|15}} [[meter]]s, or 5.88{{exp|12}} [[mile]]s.
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One '''light year''' (abbreviated '''ly''') is the distance that [[light]] travels in one [[Earth]] [[year]]. It is approximately equal to 9.46{{exp|12}} [[kilometer]]s, or 5.88{{exp|12}} [[mile]]s. Light years are common units of measurement used in [[starship]] navigation. ({{TNG|The Naked Now}})
   
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== Examples ==
Light years are common units of measurement used in [[starship]] navigation.
 
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In the [[Treaty of Armens]] ([[2255]]), it is stipulated, ''Third party assistance may be requested from a Federation Starfleet vessel or a [[Sheliak Corporate]] [[spacecraft]] if the distance from the vessel to the respective [[homeworld]] is greater than five thousand (5.0 10E3) lightyears. [[Federation Standards Measurement Bureau|UFP Standards Measurement Bureau]] Units. Assistance may also be requested if the vessel is less than 1000 lightyears from a standard UFP subspace relay booster station.'' ({{TNG|The Ensigns of Command}})
   
 
When [[Commander]] [[Benjamin Sisko]] welcomed the first guest from the [[Gamma Quadrant]] in the [[Alpha Quadrant]], a [[Tosk]], he told him that he traveled almost ninety thousand light years through the [[wormhole]]. ({{DS9|Captive Pursuit}})
 
When [[Commander]] [[Benjamin Sisko]] welcomed the first guest from the [[Gamma Quadrant]] in the [[Alpha Quadrant]], a [[Tosk]], he told him that he traveled almost ninety thousand light years through the [[wormhole]]. ({{DS9|Captive Pursuit}})
   
In [[2369]], a [[Vanoben transport]] was raided two light years away from Deep Space 9. ({{DS9|Vortex}})
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In [[2369]], a [[Vanoben transport]] was raided two light years away from [[Deep Space 9]]. ({{DS9|Vortex}})
   
 
The same year, Sisko told [[Kai]] [[Opaka]] that the Gamma Quadrant is seventy thousand light years away from [[Bajor]]. ({{DS9|Battle Lines}})
 
The same year, Sisko told [[Kai]] [[Opaka]] that the Gamma Quadrant is seventy thousand light years away from [[Bajor]]. ({{DS9|Battle Lines}})
   
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== Appendices ==
{{pna-cite}}
 
 
 
=== Related links ===
 
=== Related links ===
 
* [[Astronomical unit]]
 
* [[Astronomical unit]]
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* [[Light day]]
 
* [[Light hour]]
 
* [[Light hour]]
 
* [[Parsec]]
 
* [[Parsec]]
   
== Background ==
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=== Background information ===
 
The exact length of a light year depends on the exact length used for one "Earth year". The {{w|International Astronomical Union|IAU}} uses a {{w|Julian year (astronomy)|Julian year}} of 365.25 days, while other sources may use a {{w|Gregorian calendar|Gregorian year}} of 365.2425 days, or another [[year]] altogether.
 
The exact length of a light year depends on the exact length used for one "Earth year". The {{w|International Astronomical Union|IAU}} uses a {{w|Julian year (astronomy)|Julian year}} of 365.25 days, while other sources may use a {{w|Gregorian calendar|Gregorian year}} of 365.2425 days, or another [[year]] altogether.
 
{| class="grey"
 
{| class="grey"
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! Source
 
! Source
 
! year (days)
 
! year (days)
! light year (meters)
+
! light year (kilometers)
 
! light year (miles)
 
! light year (miles)
 
|-
 
|-
 
| IAU || 365.25
 
| IAU || 365.25
| 9,460,730,472,580,800
+
| 9,460,730,472,581
 
| 5,878,625,373,184
 
| 5,878,625,373,184
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Gregorian || 365.2425
 
| Gregorian || 365.2425
| 9,460,536,207,068,020
+
| 9,460,536,207,068
 
| 5,878,504,662,190
 
| 5,878,504,662,190
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Google || 365.242199
 
| Google || 365.242199
| 9.460 528 4{{exp|15}}
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| 9.460 528 4{{exp|12}}
 
| 5.878 499 81{{exp|12}}
 
| 5.878 499 81{{exp|12}}
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Yahoo || 365.2411<sup>&Dagger;</sup>
 
| Yahoo || 365.2411<sup>&Dagger;</sup>
| 9.460 5{{exp|15}}
+
| 9.460 5{{exp|12}}
 
| 5,878,482,164,161
 
| 5,878,482,164,161
 
|}
 
|}
 
<sup>&Dagger;</sup> Note that while Yahoo separately reports a year length of 365.24220 days, its rounding of the light year length to five digits works out to a year length of ~365.2411 days.
 
<sup>&Dagger;</sup> Note that while Yahoo separately reports a year length of 365.24220 days, its rounding of the light year length to five digits works out to a year length of ~365.2411 days.
   
== External link ==
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=== External link ===
* {{Wikipedia|Light-year|Light year}}
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* {{wikipedia|Light-year|Light year}}
 
[[Category:Measurements]]
 
   
 
[[bg:Светлинна година]]
 
[[bg:Светлинна година]]
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[[nl:Lichtjaar]]
 
[[nl:Lichtjaar]]
 
[[sr:Svjetlosna godina]]
 
[[sr:Svjetlosna godina]]
 
[[Category:Measurements]]

Revision as of 19:21, 26 November 2013

One light year (abbreviated ly) is the distance that light travels in one Earth year. It is approximately equal to 9.46e12×1012 kilometers, or 5.88e12×1012 miles. Light years are common units of measurement used in starship navigation. (TNG: "The Naked Now")

Examples

In the Treaty of Armens (2255), it is stipulated, Third party assistance may be requested from a Federation Starfleet vessel or a Sheliak Corporate spacecraft if the distance from the vessel to the respective homeworld is greater than five thousand (5.0 10E3) lightyears. UFP Standards Measurement Bureau Units. Assistance may also be requested if the vessel is less than 1000 lightyears from a standard UFP subspace relay booster station. (TNG: "The Ensigns of Command")

When Commander Benjamin Sisko welcomed the first guest from the Gamma Quadrant in the Alpha Quadrant, a Tosk, he told him that he traveled almost ninety thousand light years through the wormhole. (DS9: "Captive Pursuit")

In 2369, a Vanoben transport was raided two light years away from Deep Space 9. (DS9: "Vortex")

The same year, Sisko told Kai Opaka that the Gamma Quadrant is seventy thousand light years away from Bajor. (DS9: "Battle Lines")

Appendices

Related links

Background information

The exact length of a light year depends on the exact length used for one "Earth year". The IAU uses a Julian year of 365.25 days, while other sources may use a Gregorian year of 365.2425 days, or another year altogether.

Source year (days) light year (kilometers) light year (miles)
IAU 365.25 9,460,730,472,581 5,878,625,373,184
Gregorian 365.2425 9,460,536,207,068 5,878,504,662,190
Google 365.242199 9.460 528 4e12×1012 5.878 499 81e12×1012
Yahoo 365.2411 9.460 5e12×1012 5,878,482,164,161

Note that while Yahoo separately reports a year length of 365.24220 days, its rounding of the light year length to five digits works out to a year length of ~365.2411 days.

External link