📖 what
What is an astronomical unit?
Quick Answer
An astronomical unit, or AU, is the average distance from Earth to the Sun. It is about 149.6 million kilometers, or 93 million miles.
The Full Story
Astronomers use the astronomical unit to describe distances within the Solar System in a convenient way. One AU is defined as exactly 149,597,870,700 meters. Earth is 1 AU from the Sun by definition, Mars is about 1.52 AU away, and Jupiter is about 5.2 AU away. Using AU makes it easier to compare planetary distances without writing very large numbers.
Key Facts
1.1 AU = 149,597,870,700 meters
2.Earth is defined as 1 AU from the Sun
3.Jupiter is about 5.2 AU from the Sun
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Suggested video title for this topic:
"The Solar System’s yardstick explained"
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