Definition

A unit of measurement for distance in astronomy, equal to one thousand parsecs.

Example

The nearest star is about 1.3 kiloparsecs away from Earth.

Conversation

Did you know that a kiloparsec is a unit of distance used in astronomy?

Yeah, I heard it's equal to one thousand parsecs, right?

Exactly! It's amazing how we measure such vast distances in space.

I find it fascinating how even one kiloparsec can be so hard to comprehend.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Kiloparsec → It is formed from "kilo-" (from Greek "chilioi", meaning thousand) and "parsec" (from "parallax" and "second", referring to a unit of distance based on the apparent shift of an object against a distant background). A kiloparsec is therefore a distance of one thousand parsecs.

Memory Tip

Think of 'kilo-' meaning a thousand, and 'parsec' being a unit of distance based on parallax. This helps you remember that a kiloparsec is a distance of one thousand parsecs.

Visually Confused Words