Mile to Astronomical Unit Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert miles to astronomical units with our free online length converter.
Mile to Astronomical Unit Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Mile).
- 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 Mile to Astronomical Unit
Converting Mile to Astronomical Unit involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Mile = 1.0758e-8 astronomical unitsExample Calculation:
Convert 10 miles: 10 × 1.0758e-8 = 1.0758e-7 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 Mile and a Astronomical Unit?
The mile, specifically the international statute mile, is a unit of length in the British imperial and United States customary systems. It is defined as exactly 5,280 feet, 1,760 yards, or approximately 1.609344 kilometers.
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 Mile is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Astronomical Unit belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Mile and Astronomical Unit
The mile originated from the Roman "mille passus", meaning "thousand paces" (where a pace was two steps). Its length varied considerably until Queen Elizabeth I of England standardized it as 5,280 feet in 1593. The international mile agreement of 1959 confirmed its definition based on the metric system.
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 miles and astronomical units
Explore the typical applications for both Mile (imperial/US) and Astronomical Unit (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for miles
- Geography & Travel (US/UK): Measuring geographic distances and road lengths in the US, UK, and some other countries.
- Transportation (US/UK): Road speed limits (miles per hour, mph) in the US and UK.
- Maritime & Aviation: Nautical and aviation use a related unit, the nautical mile (approx. 1.852 km).
- Athletics: Running events (e.g., the mile run).
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 Mile (mi)
How many feet are in a mile?
There are exactly 5,280 feet (ft) in 1 mile (mi).
How many yards are in a mile?
There are exactly 1,760 yards (yd) in 1 mile (mi).
Is a mile longer or shorter than a kilometer?
A mile (approx. 1.609 km) is longer than a kilometer (1 km).
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: Mile to Astronomical Unit
| Mile (mi) | Astronomical Unit (AU) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0 |
| 5 | 0 |
| 10 | 0 |
| 25 | 0 |
| 50 | 0 |
| 100 | 0 |
| 500 | 0 |
| 1,000 | 0 |