Parallax Calculator: Stellar Distance from Parallax Angle

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Choose whether to start from a parallax angle or a known distance.
Gaia catalogues give parallax in milliarcseconds; older catalogues use arcseconds.
The annual stellar parallax: half the angular shift measured six months apart.
Distance (parsecs)Very nearby star
1.2948pc

Stellar distance in parsecs

Distance (light-years)4.223ly
Distance (AU)267,079AU
Parallax angle (arcseconds)0.7723"
Parallax angle (mas)772.3mas
Distance (pc)1.2948
Distance (ly)4.223

Distance: 1.2948 pc (4.223 ly)

  • Light from this star takes 4.22 years to reach Earth.
  • A parallax of 0.7723" is well within the reach of ground-based telescopes, which can reliably measure angles down to about 0.01 arcseconds.
  • For comparison, Proxima Centauri (the closest known star) is about 1.30 pc (4.24 ly) away with a parallax of 0.7689 arcseconds.

Next stepFor stars within ~100 pc, parallax is the most direct and accurate distance method available; no standard candle or model is needed.

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