Meter to Astronomical Unit Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert meters to astronomical units with our free online length converter.
Meter to Astronomical Unit Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Meter).
- The converted value in Astronomical Unit 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 Meter to Astronomical Unit
Converting Meter to Astronomical Unit involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Meter = 6.6845e-12 astronomical unitsExample Calculation:
Convert 10 meters: 10 × 6.6845e-12 = 6.6845e-11 astronomical units
Note: Conversion factors can sometimes be rounded for display purposes. For precise calculations, always use the full factor or rely on the calculator above.
What is a Meter and a Astronomical Unit?
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.
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.
Note: The Meter is part of the metric (SI) system, primarily used globally in science and trade. The Astronomical Unit belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Meter and Astronomical Unit
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.
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.
Common Uses for meters and astronomical units
Explore the typical applications for both Meter (metric) and Astronomical Unit (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
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.
Common Uses for astronomical units
- Measuring distances within the Solar System (e.g., planet orbits)
- Expressing distances to near-Earth objects
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions 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).
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.
Conversion Table: Meter to Astronomical Unit
| Meter (m) | Astronomical Unit (AU) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0 |
| 5 | 0 |
| 10 | 0 |
| 25 | 0 |
| 50 | 0 |
| 100 | 0 |
| 500 | 0 |
| 1,000 | 0 |