How is the Astronomical Unit (AU) fundamentally defined concerning Earth and the Sun?
Answer
The average distance between the Earth and the Sun
The Astronomical Unit (AU) serves as the primary measuring stick for mapping the Solar System because it is intrinsically linked to our local cosmic neighborhood. It is defined specifically as the mean separation existing between the Earth and the Sun. This standardized average distance provides a convenient and essential anchor point against which all interplanetary distances, such as the orbital sizes of other planets, are measured and compared. Using this unit avoids dealing with the massive, impractical numbers that would result from consistently using kilometers or miles for measurements within our solar system.
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How Does An Astronomical Unit (AU) Measure Cosmic Distances?
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