Parsec explained: a cosmic distance, not a clock

Parsec is a unit of distance defined as the distance at which one astronomical unit subtends an angle of one arcsecond, equating to about 3.26 light-years (206,265 AU). The term is often linked to Star Wars lore (Han Solo’s Kessel Run brag), but parsecs measure distance, not time, and the article breaks down the heliocentric parallax concept behind this measurement.