# Official definition of astronomical units

As it is relatively easy to find an official value for a large number of physical constants, (thanks to CODATA), it is not so easy for some units widely used in astronomy (Wikipedia, Google and IAU give different values). So in 2012, what are the "official normalized values" (with the largest precision) for :

• Year (the one used for light-years) (in $\mathrm{s}$)?
• Solar mass (in $\mathrm{kg}$)?
• Astronomical unit (in $\mathrm{m}$)?
• Light-year (in $\mathrm{m}$)?
• Parsec (in $\mathrm{m}$)?
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Not that this is a bad question as is, but it would make it a whole lot better if you include the conflicting values you've gotten from different sources for these units. –  David Z Sep 2 '12 at 3:23

The IAU General Assembly 2012 finished a few days ago. Assuming resolution B2 (PDF) was passed, the astronomical unit has been frozen and the following values are exact by definition $$1\mathrm{a} = 365.25\mathrm{d} = 365.25 \cdot 86\,400\mathrm{s} = 31\,557\,600\mathrm{s} \\ 1\mathrm{ly} = 299\,792\,458 \mathrm{\frac ms} \cdot 1\mathrm{a} = 9\,460\,730\,472\,580\,800\mathrm{m} \\ 1\mathrm{au} = 149\,597\,870\,700 \mathrm{m}$$
This also gives the exact value $$1\mathrm{pc} = 1\mathrm{au} \cdot \cot 1'' = 1\mathrm{au} \cdot \cot \frac{\pi}{648\,000} \approx 30\,856\,775\,814\,671\,916\mathrm{m}$$
The heliocentric gravitational constant $GM_S$ (and thus the solar mass $M_S$) still needs to be determined observationally.