Q:
How far away is Earth from the sun?
A:
Quick Answer
The Earth is 1 astronomical unit, which is approximately 150 million kilometers, or 93 million miles, from the sun, according to the Astronomical Union. The AU is used to describe distances that are much smaller than a light-year.
Continue Reading
Credit:
SCIEPRO
Science Photo Library
Getty Images
Full Answer
A light-year is the amount of distance that light is able to travel in a year. It only takes the light from the sun a little over eight minutes to reach the Earth, traveling a distance of 1 AU. Distances between planets and other objects in the solar system are often measured in terms of astronomical units, as they are much too small to be effectively measured in light-years.
Learn more about PlanetsSources:
Related Questions
-
Q:
How big is Uranus compared to Earth?
A: Uranus is the smallest of the gas planets, but its diameter of 51,118 kilometers is still four times longer than the Earth's, according to Universe Today. ... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
How far is Saturn from Earth?
A: Saturn sits an average of 793.8 million miles from Earth. However, the distance between Saturn and Earth varies based upon where both planets are in their ... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
Where is the planet Saturn located?
A: Saturn is located 886 million miles (1.4 billion kilometers) from the sun. The sixth planet in the solar system, Saturn rotates on its axis once every 10.7... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
How Close Does Mars Get to the Sun?
A: Mars gets to within 128.5 million miles (206.5 million kilometers) during its closest orbit of the sun. Mars' average distance to the sun is 142 million mi... Full Answer >Filed Under:
