SOLAR SYSTEM

Astronomical Unit (A.U.)

Comparison of Planet Distances in the Solar System from the Sun

1. Appropriate units of measurement need to be used to measure the longest distance in

space such as the distance between the planets and the Sun, the distance between the
planets and the distance between the planets and the nearby stars.
2. Two units of distance measurement in space are used, namely ​astronomical unit (A.
U.) ​and ​light years (ly)​.
3. Astronomical unit​ is the average distance between the Earth and the Sun which is
approximately 150 million kilometres or 93 million miles.
4. Light years
○ The distance in space can also be measured using the unit of light years
○ 1 light year is the distance travelled by light in one year

A.U. = 1.5 × 108 km

1 light year (ly)

= 63 241 A.U.

≈ 6.32 × 104 A.U.

1 light year (ly) = 6.32 × 104 A.U.

Therefore, 1 light year (ly)

= 6.32 × 104 A.U. × 1.5 × 108 km

= 9.48 × 1012 km

1 light year (ly) ≈ 9.5 × 1012 km

Converting units between Astronomical Unit, Light Years and Kilometres

Example:​ The average distance between the Uranus and the Sun is 2.87 × 109 km. Calculate
the distance of the Uranus from the Sun in

(a) Astronomical unit

(b) Light years

Solution:

(a) Distance in A.U. =

(b) Distance in ly =