Chapter 1, Problem 53P

SSM An astronomical unit (AU) is equal to the average distance from Earth to the Sun. about 92.9 × 10⁶ mi. A parsec (pc) is the distance at which a length of 1 AU would subtend an angle of exactly 1 second of arc (Fig. 1-8). A light-year (1y) is the distance that light, traveling through a vacuum with a speed of 186 000 mi/s, would cover in 1.0 year. Express the Earth-Sun distance in (a) parsecs and (b) light-years.

Figure 1-8 Problem 53.