astronomical unit

An Astronomical Unit (AU) is a standard measurement used to describe distances in space, particularly within our solar system. It is defined as the average distance from the Earth to the Sun, approximately 93 million miles or about 150 million kilometers. The AU helps astronomers compare distances between planets and other celestial objects more easily. For instance, when we say a planet is 2 AU from the Sun, it means that it is twice as far from the Sun as the Earth is. This unit improves our understanding of the vastness of space.