noun
kiloparsec; kpc
Astronomical unit of distance equal to 1,000 parsecs. Used in professional and academic contexts.
銀河系の直径は約30キロパーセクと推定されている。
The diameter of the Milky Way is estimated to be about 30 kiloparsecs.
パーセク is the base unit (parsec); キロパーセク is 1,000 times larger.
メガパーセク is 1,000 times larger than キロパーセク, used for intergalactic distances.
International scientific term, from 'kilo-' + 'parsec'. The Japanese form is a direct loanword.