Astronomical Unit to Meter Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert astronomical units to meters with our free online length converter.
Astronomical Unit to Meter Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Astronomical Unit).
- The converted value in Meter will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
- Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Length category.
- Click the swap button (⇌) to reverse the conversion direction.
How to Convert Astronomical Unit to Meter
Converting Astronomical Unit to Meter involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Astronomical Unit = 1.4960e+11 metersExample Calculation:
Convert 10 astronomical units: 10 × 1.4960e+11 = 1.4960e+12 meters
Disclaimer: For Reference Only
These conversion results are provided for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the precision of these results, especially for conversions involving extremely large or small numbers which may be subject to the inherent limitations of standard computer floating-point arithmetic.
Not for professional use. Results should be verified before use in any critical application. View our Terms of Service for more information.
What is a Astronomical Unit and a Meter?
An astronomical unit is a unit of length roughly equal to the average distance between Earth and the Sun. It is defined as exactly 149,597,870,700 meters.
The meter is the base unit of length in the International System of Units (SI). It is defined as the distance traveled by light in a vacuum in 1/299,792,458 of a second. It forms the basis for other metric length units.
Note: The Astronomical Unit is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Meter belongs to the metric (SI) system.
History of the Astronomical Unit and Meter
Historically used to measure distances within the Solar System, its value was refined over centuries through astronomical observations. The exact definition was adopted by the IAU in 2012.
Originally defined in 1793 by the French Academy of Sciences as one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole along a meridian. Later definitions involved prototype bars (platinum-iridium) and wavelengths of krypton-86 radiation before the current definition based on the speed of light was adopted in 1983.
Common Uses for astronomical units and meters
Explore the typical applications for both Astronomical Unit (imperial/US) and Meter (metric) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for astronomical units
- Measuring distances within the Solar System (e.g., planet orbits)
- Expressing distances to near-Earth objects
Common Uses for meters
- Dimensions & Construction: Measuring room dimensions, building heights, and land plots.
- Science & Engineering: Standard unit in scientific research (physics, engineering).
- Athletics: Track and field events (e.g., 100-meter dash).
- Textiles: Measuring fabric lengths.
- Everyday Measurements: Everyday height and distance measurements in metric countries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Astronomical Unit (AU)
Why use Astronomical Units instead of kilometers or miles?
Astronomical Units (AU) provide a more convenient scale for the vast distances within our solar system. Expressing interplanetary distances in km or miles results in extremely large and unwieldy numbers.
How many kilometers/miles is 1 AU?
1 Astronomical Unit (AU) is approximately 149.6 million kilometers or 93 million miles.
How long does it take light to travel 1 AU?
It takes sunlight approximately 8 minutes and 20 seconds to travel the distance of one Astronomical Unit from the Sun to the Earth.
About Meter (m)
Is the meter the primary unit of length globally?
Yes, the meter is the base unit for length in the SI system, used by most countries for scientific, industrial, and many everyday purposes.
How was the meter originally defined?
It was first defined based on a fraction of the Earth's meridian distance from the equator to the North Pole.
How is the meter defined today?
It is defined by the distance light travels in a vacuum during a specific fraction of a second (1/299,792,458 s).
Conversion Table: Astronomical Unit to Meter
| Astronomical Unit (AU) | Meter (m) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 149,600,000,000 |
| 5 | 748,000,000,000 |
| 10 | 1,496,000,000,000 |
| 25 | 3,740,000,000,000 |
| 50 | 7,480,000,000,000 |
| 100 | 14,960,000,000,000 |
| 500 | 74,800,000,000,000 |
| 1,000 | 149,600,000,000,000 |