Convert Signs to Milliarcseconds
Convert Signs (sign) to Milliarcseconds (mas) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
mas = sign × 108000000
About Signs
An astrological sign equals 1/12 of a full circle - π/6 rad = exactly 30°. The zodiac divides the ecliptic into twelve 30° signs (Aries through Pisces), originating in Babylonian astronomy ~5th century BCE. Historical ecliptic longitude was expressed as sign + degrees: "Scorpio 12°" = 222°. The 30° spacing also appears in music theory: the circle of fifths has twelve equally spaced positions 30° apart, and the octave divides into 12 equal semitones. 1 sign = 30° = 1,800′ = π/6 rad = 533.3 NATO mils.
About Milliarcseconds
A milliarcsecond (mas) is one thousandth of an arcsecond - approximately 4.848 × 10⁻⁹ rad. It is the standard unit of precision astrometry. The ESA Hipparcos satellite measured stellar positions to ~1 mas; its successor Gaia achieves 7-100 µas for bright stars. A parallax of 1 mas corresponds to a distance of 1 kiloparsec (3,260 light-years). Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) resolves well below 1 mas, imaging structures around supermassive black holes. 1 mas = 10⁻³ arcseconds ≈ 4.848 × 10⁻⁹ rad.
Quick Reference Table
| Signs (sign) | Milliarcseconds (mas) |
|---|---|
| 1 sign | 108000000 mas |
| 2 sign | 216000000 mas |
| 5 sign | 540000000 mas |
| 10 sign | 1.08 × 109 mas |
| 25 sign | 2.7 × 109 mas |
| 50 sign | 5.4 × 109 mas |
| 100 sign | 1.08 × 1010 mas |