A megaparsec (Mpc) is a unit of measurement used in astrophysics and cosmology to express vast distances on cosmic scales. It is equal to one million parsecs. A parsec (pc) is a unit of length used in astronomy to describe astronomical distances, and it is approximately equal to 3.09 × 10^16 meters or 3.09 × 10^13 kilometers.
So, a megaparsec is equivalent to:
1 megaparsec (Mpc) = 1,000,000 parsecs (pc)
Megaparsecs are typically used to describe distances between galaxies and galaxy clusters in the universe. Since astronomical distances are extremely large, the parsec and its multiples, such as the megaparsec, provide a convenient way to express these distances without dealing with unwieldy numbers of kilometers or light-years. Cosmologists often use megaparsecs when discussing the large-scale structure of the universe, the size of galaxy clusters, and the expansion of the cosmos.
A meter (m) is the base unit of length in the International System of Units (SI), which is the modern metric system used for scientific and everyday measurements in most countries around the world. The meter is defined as the length of the path traveled by light in a vacuum during a time interval of 1/299,792,458 of a second.
In more practical terms, a meter is approximately equal to:
Meters are commonly used for measuring various lengths and distances, including the dimensions of objects, the length of rooms or buildings, and distances between locations on Earth. It is a versatile unit of measurement that is widely used in science, engineering, construction, and everyday life.