Versta to Astronomical Unit Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert versts to astronomical units with our free online length converter.
Versta to Astronomical Unit Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Versta).
- 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 Versta to Astronomical Unit
Converting Versta to Astronomical Unit involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Versta = 7.1310e-9 astronomical unitsExample Calculation:
Convert 10 versts: 10 × 7.1310e-9 = 7.1310e-8 astronomical units
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 Versta and a Astronomical Unit?
The Versta (Russian: верста́, plural: вёрсты, vyorsty) is an obsolete Russian unit of length or distance. It was defined as being equal to 500 sazhenes (саже́нь).
Based on the standardized sajene of 7 English feet (2.1336 meters) established under Peter the Great, one Versta is equal to:
- 1066.8 meters (m)
- 1.0668 kilometers (km)
- Approximately 3500 feet (ft)
- Approximately 0.6629 miles (mi)
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 Versta 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 Versta and Astronomical Unit
The Versta was a traditional unit of distance in Russia, used since at least the 11th century. Its length varied historically until Peter the Great standardized the Russian system of measures in the 18th century, linking the sajene to the English foot (1 sajene = 7 feet). This fixed the Versta at 500 * 7 = 3500 feet, or 1066.8 meters.
- Imperial Russia: The Versta became the standard unit for measuring road distances throughout the Russian Empire. Roads were often marked with verst posts (верстово́й столб, verstovoy stolb) indicating distances.
- Mezhevaya Versta: A less common "boundary versta" (межева́я верста́, mezhevaya versta) also existed, primarily for land surveying. It was twice as long, equal to 1000 sazhenes (approximately 2.13 km). Unless specified otherwise, "Versta" usually refers to the standard 500-sajene unit.
- Metrication: The Versta became obsolete after the Russian Revolution. The metric system was officially adopted in 1918 and became mandatory in 1925, replacing the traditional Russian units.
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 versts and astronomical units
Explore the typical applications for both Versta (imperial/US) and Astronomical Unit (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for versts
The Versta was primarily used for:
- Measuring Travel Distances: It was the standard unit for road distances between towns and cities in Imperial Russia. Maps, travel guides, and road markers all used Versts.
- Postal System: Distances for mail delivery and stagecoach routes were measured in Versts.
- Literature: The Versta frequently appears in Russian literature of the 18th and 19th centuries (e.g., works by Pushkin, Gogol, Tolstoy, Chekhov) to describe journeys and distances, adding historical context.
- Military: Used for measuring marching distances and geographical surveys.
Its use today is purely historical or literary.
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 Versta (versta)
How long is a Versta?
A standard Versta is exactly:
- 1066.8 meters
- 1.0668 kilometers
- Approximately 0.6629 miles
- Approximately 3500 feet
- Exactly 500 sazhenes
What were the main related Russian units?
The Versta was part of the Imperial Russian system of measures:
- 1 Versta = 500 Sajenes (саже́нь)
- 1 Sajene = 3 Arshins (арши́н) ≈ 2.13 m / 7 ft
- 1 Arshin = 16 Vershoks (вершо́к) ≈ 71.1 cm / 28 in
- 1 Vershok ≈ 4.445 cm / 1.75 in
Was there more than one type of Versta?
Yes, besides the standard "travel" Versta (500 sazhenes), there was a Mezhevaya Versta ("boundary versta") used for land surveying, which was equal to 1000 sazhenes (about 2.13 km). The 500-sajene Versta was far more common.
Is the Versta still used today?
No, the Versta is obsolete. It was officially replaced by the kilometer and meter when Russia adopted the metric system in the early 20th century (mandatory from 1925). Its use is now confined to historical contexts and literature.
How does a Versta compare to a kilometer or a mile?
- A Versta is slightly longer than a kilometer: 1 Versta ≈ 1.07 km.
- A Versta is significantly shorter than a mile: 1 Versta ≈ 0.66 miles (roughly two-thirds of a mile). Conversely, 1 mile ≈ 1.51 Versts.
Is the Versta an SI unit?
No, the Versta is not an SI unit. It is a traditional unit from the historical Russian system of measurement. The SI base unit for length is the meter (m).
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: Versta to Astronomical Unit
| Versta (versta) | Astronomical Unit (AU) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0 |
| 5 | 0 |
| 10 | 0 |
| 25 | 0 |
| 50 | 0 |
| 100 | 0 |
| 500 | 0 |
| 1,000 | 0 |
All Length Conversions
Other Units from Length
- Meter (m)
- Kilometer (km)
- Hectometer (hm)
- Decimeter (dm)
- Centimeter (cm)
- Millimeter (mm)
- Inch (in)
- Foot (ft)
- Yard (yd)
- Mile (mi)
- Nautical Mile (NM)
- Micrometer (μm)
- Nanometer (nm)
- Light Year (ly)
- Parsec (pc)
- Angstrom (Å)
- Point (Typography) (pt)
- Mil/Thou (mil)
- Fathom (fath)
- Furlong (fur)
- Link (Gunter's) (li)
- Pace (pace)
- Span (span)
- Digit (digit)
- Cable Length (cb)
- Ell (ell)
- Finger (finger)
- Roman Mile (m.p.)
- Stadion (stadion)
- Chi (Chinese) (chi)
- Shaku (Japanese) (shaku)
- Li (Chinese) (li)
- Toise (toise)
- Bolt (bolt)
- Rope (rope)
- Smoot (smoot)
- Sajene (sajene)
- Ken (ken)
- Wa (wa)
- Vara (vara)
- Aln (aln)
- Cubit (Royal/Egyptian) (cubit)
- Arpent (arpent)
- Ri (Japanese) (ri)
- Klafter (klafter)
- Yojana (yojana)
- Skein (skein)