Space is vast, and understanding the distances between celestial bodies is a challenge. Astronomers use units like light years and parsecs to measure these immense distances. A light year is the distance that light travels in one year—approximately 9.46 trillion kilometers (5.88 trillion miles). The nearest star to Earth, Proxima Centauri, is about 4.24 light years away.
Another unit, the parsec, is equal to about 3.26 light years. These measurements help astronomers study the distances between stars, galaxies, and other cosmic objects. Understanding these distances is crucial for mapping the universe and determining the structure of our galaxy and beyond.