Definition:Astronomical Distance Units/Astronomical Unit
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Definition
The astronomical unit is a derived unit of length.
It is defined as being $149 \, 597 \, 870 \, 700$ metres.
The astronomical unit is the standard unit of measurement used by astronomers when discussing distances within the solar system.
It is derived as the approximate mean distance from the center of Earth to the center of the Sun.
Conversion Factors
\(\ds \) | \(\) | \(\ds 1\) | astronomical unit | |||||||||||
\(\ds \) | \(=\) | \(\ds 149 \, 597 \, 870 \, 700\) | metres | |||||||||||
\(\ds \) | \(\approx\) | \(\ds 92 \, 955 \, 807 \cdotp 273\) | miles | |||||||||||
\(\ds \) | \(\approx\) | \(\ds 1 \cdotp 58125 \, 07409 \, 8 \times 10^{-5}\) | light years | |||||||||||
\(\ds \) | \(\approx\) | \(\ds 4 \cdotp 84813 \, 68111 \times 10^{-6}\) | parsec |
Approximate Values
The astronomical unit is approximately $150 \, 000 \, 000 \, \mathrm {k m}$, or $93$ million (international) miles.
Symbol
- $\mathrm {AU}$ or $\mathrm {au}$
The symbol for the astronomical unit is $\mathrm {AU}$ or $\mathrm {au}$.
The $\LaTeX$ code for \(\mathrm {AU}\) is \mathrm {AU}
.
The $\LaTeX$ code for \(\mathrm {au}\) is \mathrm {au}
.
Sources
- 1964: Milton Abramowitz and Irene A. Stegun: Handbook of Mathematical Functions ... (previous) ... (next): $2$. Physical Constants and Conversion Factors: Table $2.4$ Miscellaneous Conversion Factors
- 1992: George F. Simmons: Calculus Gems ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $\text {B}.25$: Kepler's Laws and Newton's Law of Gravitation
- 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): astronomical unit
- 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): astronomical unit