Convert fathom to light year
Please provide values below to convert fathom [fath] to light year [ly], or Convert light year to fathom.
How to Convert Fathom to Light Year
1 fath = 1.93304312526438e-16 ly
Example: convert 15 fath to ly:
15 fath = 15 × 1.93304312526438e-16 ly = 2.89956468789657e-15 ly
Fathom to Light Year Conversion Table
| fathom | light year |
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Fathom
A fathom is a unit of length equal to 6 feet, used especially for measuring the depth of water.
History/Origin
The term "fathom" comes from the Old English word "fæthm," meaning "outstretched arms," as the distance was originally the span of a man's outstretched arms.
Current Use
The fathom is still used in nautical applications, especially in the United States, to measure water depth. It is also used in commercial fishing to measure the length of lines.
Light Year
A light-year is the distance that light travels in a vacuum in one Julian year.
History/Origin
The concept of the light-year as a unit of distance in astronomy emerged in the mid-19th century. The first recorded use of the term was in a German astronomical publication in 1851.
Current Use
The light-year is used to express distances to stars and other astronomical objects on a galactic and intergalactic scale, especially in popular science and non-specialist contexts.