What unit is used when discussing the distance to Proxima Centauri?
Answer
Light-year
When astronomical measurements extend beyond the bounds of the solar system to discuss interstellar distances, even the Astronomical Unit (AU) becomes inadequate due to the resulting large numbers—for instance, Proxima Centauri translates to $268,000$ AU. Therefore, the light-year is introduced as the necessary unit for measuring distances to nearby stars. A light-year represents the immense distance that light traverses over the course of one full Earth year. Quoting Proxima Centauri's distance as $4.24$ light-years is significantly more manageable and digestible than expressing it in kilometers or even AU, thereby providing necessary context for these truly enormous spans.
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