What exact nominal value did the International Astronomical Union (IAU) set for the astronomical unit in meters?
Answer
149,597,870,700 meters
To ensure uniformity and high confidence when comparing astronomical data collected globally over various time spans, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) established a precise, fixed definition for the Astronomical Unit (AU). This nominal value is exactly 149,597,870,700 meters. This fixed metric standard allows observations made decades apart or by different international teams to be directly compared without needing to account for slight historical measurement variations, thereby establishing certainty in solar system mapping.
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