Milliarcsecond to Turn Converter

A milliarcsecond (mas) is a unit of angular measurement equal to 1/1000 of an arcsecond or 1/3,600,000 of a degree. It represents the finest level of angular precision commonly used in astronomy.

Milliarcseconds became necessary with the advent of very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) and space-based telescopes in the late 20th century. This precision level was unattainable until advanced radio astronomy techniques and space missions like Hipparcos and Gaia made such measurements possible.

Milliarcseconds are used in cutting-edge astronomical research for measuring stellar parallax, proper motion of stars, positions of quasars, and in very long baseline interferometry. They're essential for the most precise astrometric measurements and are used by space missions like Gaia for creating detailed star catalogs.

A turn is a unit of angular measurement representing one complete rotation or revolution, equal to 360 degrees or 2π radians. It represents the most fundamental concept of rotational measurement.

The concept of a complete turn or revolution has been understood since ancient times, but its formal use as a unit of measurement became more common in modern mathematics and engineering. It provides an intuitive way to express rotational quantities without conversion factors.

Turns are used in mechanical engineering for describing rotational speed (revolutions per minute), in computer graphics for rotation transformations, and in some mathematical contexts where full rotations are more natural than degrees or radians. They're also used in describing gear ratios and motor specifications.