lightyears
Astronomical distance units
Lightyears are units of astronomical distance—how far light travels in one year, about 5.88 trillion miles.
The nearest star is over four lightyears away.
Figuratively, lightyears expresses vast difference or distance: The new version is lightyears ahead of the original.
Usually spelled as two words: light-years or light years.
Distance units for astronomy
- interstellarBetween celestial bodies
- galaxyGravitationally bound stellar mass
- nebulaInterstellar gas formation
- telescopeInstrument magnifying faraway objects
observatory · constellation · celestial · quasar · pulsar · supernova · redshift · cosmology
Maximum cosmic velocity
- relativityHow observers differ
- warpBend from true form
- hyperspaceFaster-than-light travel medium
- superluminalExceeding light's speed
subluminal · FTL · velocity · luminal · spacetime · propulsion · tachyon · accelerate
Limitless extent or magnitude
- infinityUnlimited extent or quantity
- expanseUnbroken area of space
- boundlessnessAbsence of any boundary
- enormityGrave wickedness or immensity
scale · magnitude · incomprehensible · unfathomable · beyond · distant · far · reach
parsecs
Distance units for astronomy
- interstellarBetween celestial bodies
- galaxyGravitationally bound stellar mass
- nebulaInterstellar gas formation
telescope · observatory · constellation · celestial · quasar · pulsar · supernova · redshift · cosmology · universe
lightspeed
Maximum cosmic velocity
- relativityHow observers differ
- warpBend from true form
- hyperspaceFaster-than-light travel medium
superluminal · subluminal · FTL · velocity · luminal · spacetime · propulsion · tachyon · accelerate · traverse
immensity
Limitless extent or magnitude
- infinityUnlimited extent or quantity
- expanseUnbroken area of space
- boundlessnessAbsence of any boundary
enormity · scale · magnitude · incomprehensible · unfathomable · beyond · distant · far · reach · spanning
ahead
In the lead
superior · outpacing · surpassing · leagues · miles · eons · ages · progress · evolution · comparison
lightyearsinches
Small length units
millimeters · a stone's throw · nanometers · angstroms · spitting distance
lightyearsangstroms
Ten-billionths of meters
nanometers · femtometers · micrometers · millimeters · picometers
lightyearsinches
Small length units
baby steps · a stone's throw · millimeters · neck and neck · on par