A parsec is an astronomical measure of length, that stands for "parallax arc-second". It is based on the ancient Earth method of measuring interstellar distances using trigonometry. A star located one parsec away from an observer would have a parallax angle of one arc-second. One parsec is equal to 206,265 astronomical units, or 3.2616 light-years.
- This term was first used in Star Trek in TOS:"Arena," but has rarely been used in TNG-era productions.
- See also
- milliparsec
References
- TOS:"Arena" | The unexplored region where the Metrons stopped the Enterprise and the Gorn ship occupied 1,000 cubic parsecs. The Metrons later hurled Enterprise 500 parsecs distant.
- TOS:"The Alternative Factor" | All Starfleet units and personnel were evacuated from an area covering 100 parsecs from the planet where Lazarus was found.
- TOS:"The Trouble with Tribbles" | The Enterprise was to pass 1 parsec from a Klingon outpost. Pavel Chekov though this was "close enough to smell them."
- TOS:"Bread and Circuses" | Enterprise was one-sixteenth of a parsec from 892-IV when it identified the SS Beagle debris.
- TOS:"The Enterprise Incident" | The Enterprise used sensors to scan a one-half parsec radius, then increased to a 1 parsec radius.
- TOS:"The Tholian Web" | When the interphase began, the Enterprise was thrown 2.72 parsecs from where the Tholians' field captured them.
- TNG:"Unnatural Selection" | The USS Enterprise-D was 2.2 milliparsecs from the USS Lantree. There were no other vessels within 2 parsecs of there.
- TNG:"Where Silence Has Lease" | According to Data's reading of inertial guidance, the Enterprise-D traveled 1.4 parsecs in Nagilum's void without finding any sign of an exit.
- TNG:"Tin Man" | The Vega 9 probe to the Beta Stromgren system traveled 23 parsecs from Federation boundaries to get there.
- TNG:"Transfigurations" | Zalkon was 2.3 parsecs distant from where the Zalkonian vessel met the Enterprise-D.
- TNG:"Clues" | The Enterprise-D was supposedly thrown 0.54 parsecs from their position near the Paxans' homeworld.