Convert Kilometer to Light Year
Use this free converter to change kilometers (km) into light years (ly). Kilometer and light year both measure length. As a quick reference, 1 km equals 1.0570e-13 ly, and 1 ly equals 9.4607e+12 km.
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Light Year (ly)
1.0570e-13
1 km = 1.0570e-13 ly
Length conversion table
| Kilometer | Light Year |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 1.0570e-15 |
| 0.1 | 1.0570e-14 |
| 0.5 | 5.2850e-14 |
| 1 | 1.0570e-13 |
| 2 | 2.1140e-13 |
| 3 | 3.1710e-13 |
| 5 | 5.2850e-13 |
| 10 | 1.0570e-12 |
| 20 | 2.1140e-12 |
| 25 | 2.6425e-12 |
| 50 | 5.2850e-12 |
| 100 | 1.0570e-11 |
| 1,000 | 1.0570e-10 |
How to convert Kilometer to Light Year
Multiply the kilometer value by 1.0570e-13 to get light years.
- Enter the number of kilometers you want to convert.
- The converter instantly shows the equivalent value in light years.
- Worked example: 15 km × 1.0570e-13 = 1.5855e-12 ly.
- Use the swap button to reverse the conversion (light year to kilometer).
About these units
Kilometer (km)
- Definition
- A kilometer (km) is 1,000 meters and is the metric unit used for measuring longer distances such as roads and travel.
- History
- It entered use with the metric system in the 1790s, combining the SI prefix "kilo-" (thousand) with the meter.
- Current use
- Most of the world expresses road distances and speed limits in kilometers; the main exceptions are the United States and the United Kingdom, which still use miles.
Light Year (ly)
- Definition
- A light-year (ly) is the distance light travels in one year in a vacuum, about 9.46 trillion kilometers.
- History
- The concept arose in the 19th century as astronomers sought an intuitive way to express the vast distances between stars.
- Current use
- Light-years express distances to stars and galaxies in astronomy and popular science.
Frequently asked questions
How many light years are in a kilometer?
There are 1.0570e-13 ly in 1 km. To convert, multiply the number of kilometers by 1.0570e-13.
How do I convert kilometers to light years?
Multiply the kilometer value by 1.0570e-13 to get light years. For example, 10 km = 1.0570e-12 ly.
Is this kilometer-to-light year converter free?
Yes. This converter is completely free, runs entirely in your browser, and requires no sign-up. Your inputs never leave your device.
Convert Kilometer to other length units
| Unit | 1 Kilometer equals |
|---|---|
| Meter (m) | 1000 m |
| Centimeter (cm) | 100000 cm |
| Millimeter (mm) | 1000000 mm |
| Micrometer (µm) | 1000000000 µm |
| Nanometer (nm) | 1000000000000 nm |
| Mile (mi) | 0.62137119 mi |
| Yard (yd) | 1093.6133 yd |
| Foot (ft) | 3280.8399 ft |
| Inch (in) | 39370.079 in |
| Nautical Mile (nmi) | 0.5399568 nmi |
| Light Year (ly) | 1.0570e-13 ly |