Astronomical Unit to Yard Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert astronomical units to yards with our free online length converter.
Astronomical Unit to Yard Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Astronomical Unit).
- The converted value in Yard 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 Yard
Converting Astronomical Unit to Yard involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Astronomical Unit = 1.6360e+11 yardsExample Calculation:
Convert 10 astronomical units: 10 × 1.6360e+11 = 1.6360e+12 yards
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 Yard?
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 yard is a unit of length in the British imperial and United States customary systems of measurement. It is defined as exactly 3 feet or 36 inches, which equals 0.9144 meters.
Note: The Astronomical Unit is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Yard belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Astronomical Unit and Yard
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.
The origin of the yard is uncertain, with historical links possibly related to the length of a stride or the distance from the nose to the fingertip of an outstretched arm (associated with King Henry I of England, though likely apocryphal). It became a standard unit in England for measuring cloth and land, and was later precisely defined relative to the meter.
Common Uses for astronomical units and yards
Explore the typical applications for both Astronomical Unit (imperial/US) and Yard (imperial/US) 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 yards
- Textiles: Measuring fabric length (often sold by the yard).
- Sports: Dimensions of sports fields (e.g., American football, soccer pitch lengths can be expressed in yards).
- Landscaping: Landscaping and gardening measurements (e.g., yards of mulch).
- Short Distances: Shorter road distances or property dimensions in the US and UK.
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 Yard (yd)
How many feet are in a yard?
There are exactly 3 feet (ft) in 1 yard (yd).
How many inches are in a yard?
There are exactly 36 inches (in) in 1 yard (yd).
Is a yard longer or shorter than a meter?
A yard (0.9144 m) is slightly shorter than a meter (1 m).
Conversion Table: Astronomical Unit to Yard
| Astronomical Unit (AU) | Yard (yd) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 163,604,549,431.321 |
| 5 | 818,022,747,156.606 |
| 10 | 1,636,045,494,313.211 |
| 25 | 4,090,113,735,783.027 |
| 50 | 8,180,227,471,566.055 |
| 100 | 16,360,454,943,132.11 |
| 500 | 81,802,274,715,660.55 |
| 1,000 | 163,604,549,431,321.1 |