= Kiloparsec
{title2=$\mathrm{kpc}=10^3\,\mathrm{pc}$}
A <kiloparsec> is $10^3$ <parsecs>, approximately $3.086\times10^{19}$ <metres> or $3262$ <light-years>. It is a useful unit for distances within and between <galaxies>: a length quoted as $8\,\mathrm{kpc}$ is $8000\,\mathrm{pc}$.
The underlying <parsec> is defined geometrically as $(648000/\pi)$ <astronomical units>. Consequently the <stellar parallax> relation $d(\mathrm{pc})=1/p(\mathrm{arcsec})$ makes a <kiloparsec> correspond approximately to a parallax of one <milliarcsecond>. The small angle illustrates why distant <stars> require precise <astrometry>.
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