Enter the distance in Astronomical Units into the calculator to determine the distance in kilometers; this calculator can also evaluate the distance in Astronomical Units given the distance in kilometers is known.
Au (Astronomical Units) Formula
The following formula is used to calculate the distance in kilometers between two objects in Astronomical Units (AU).
D = AU * 149,597,870.7
Variables:
- D is the distance in kilometers
- AU is the distance in Astronomical Units
To calculate the distance in kilometers, multiply the distance in Astronomical Units by the conversion factor 149,597,870.7.
What is a Au (Astronomical Units)?
An Astronomical Unit (AU) is a unit of measurement that astronomers use to describe the enormous distances in the solar system. It is defined as the average distance from the Earth to the Sun, approximately 93 million miles or about 150 million kilometers. This unit provides a simpler way to represent these vast distances and to compare them more easily. For instance, the distance of Mars from the Sun is about 1.5 AU, and the distance of Jupiter from the Sun is about 5.2 AU. The concept of the AU was first suggested by the ancient Greek astronomer Hipparchus, and it was later adopted officially by the International Astronomical Union in 1976.
How to Calculate Au (Astronomical Units)?
The following steps outline how to calculate the Au (Astronomical Units) for a given distance.
- First, determine the distance in kilometers (km).
- Next, divide the distance by the average distance from the Earth to the Sun, which is approximately 149.6 million kilometers (km).
- Finally, calculate the Au by dividing the distance in kilometers by the average distance from the Earth to the Sun.
- After inserting the distance and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.
Example Problem:
Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.
Distance (km) = 300,000,000
Au = Distance (km) / 149,600,000
