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well we use three main ones : Light years, parsecs and kilometers, but we usually only use kilometers for our inner solar system

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There is also the Astronomical Unit, AU, which is the average distance between the earth and the sun. A parsec is roughly 3.3 light years, and a light year is the distance covered by light in a vacuum in one earth year.

um also the distance requires the sun. Since astronomers did not know where to start, they measured everything in the universe starting with the sun.

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13y ago
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11y ago

Light Years is commonly used for very large distances.

Although meters ^ something is some times used

and for smaller distances AU (Astronomical unit) is sometimes used which is the distance from the Earth-Sun.

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11y ago

Well you can use the customary or metric system, along with the au, or Astronomical Unit. This is the distance between the Earth and the Sun, and use to measure distances in our solar system. Beyond that however is light-years, or every 5 trillion 900 billion miles

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8y ago

The most commonly used measure of distance is an astronomical unit, and 1 astronomical unit is the average of the maximum and minimum distance between the Earth and the Sun. That is approximately 149.6 million kilometres.

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12y ago

Apart from meters and kilometers, in Astronomy the following units are often used:

  • Astronomical unit, the mean Sun-Earth distance. About 150 million kilometers.
  • Light-year, the distance light travels in a year. About 9.5 x 1012 km.
  • Parsec, the distance at which an object must be to have a parallax of 1 arc-second. About 3.26 light-years.
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15y ago

Usually lightyears, parsecs, or megaparsecs.

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13y ago

Light years: the distance that light travels in a year.

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13y ago

It's quite simple,

2x[Size Of My Penis] = Space.

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8y ago

One of the most useful units to use within the solar system is the AU (Astronomical Unit). It is the average distance between the earth and the sun (Approx 93 million miles)

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Q: What units are used to measure distances in the solar system?
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Why do scientists use light-years and astronomical units?

meters, feet, and even miles are way too small to measure distances in space. astronomical units are mostly used to measure distances in our solar system. light years are used to measure the distances of things further away from our solar system.


What is the relation between angstrom and astronomical unit?

Both are units used to measure distances. An angstrom is 10-10 meters - a very small unit. An AU is the distance from Earth to Sun, used to compare distances in the Solar System - a distance of about 150 million kilometers.Both are units used to measure distances. An angstrom is 10-10 meters - a very small unit. An AU is the distance from Earth to Sun, used to compare distances in the Solar System - a distance of about 150 million kilometers.Both are units used to measure distances. An angstrom is 10-10 meters - a very small unit. An AU is the distance from Earth to Sun, used to compare distances in the Solar System - a distance of about 150 million kilometers.Both are units used to measure distances. An angstrom is 10-10 meters - a very small unit. An AU is the distance from Earth to Sun, used to compare distances in the Solar System - a distance of about 150 million kilometers.


Why are astronomical units used?

measuring distances in the solar system.


Are kilometers the most useful unit of measure when discussing objects in our solar sysytem?

You can use kilometers if you like. On the other hand, distances within the Solar System are often quoted in AU (astronomical units), where 1 astronomical unit is the distance from Sun to Earth. Such distances are easier to visualize.


Why are astronomical units necessary?

Because it would be impractical (very large numbers) to use kilometers, miles, or meters to measure distances in our solar system. This unit of measurement is used as it allows for comparisons to be done with relative ease, and all distances can be standardized. For this same reason when talking about anything outside of the solar system, light-years are used as the distances become drastically larger and too much for AUs to handle.

Related questions

Why do scientists use light-years and astronomical units?

meters, feet, and even miles are way too small to measure distances in space. astronomical units are mostly used to measure distances in our solar system. light years are used to measure the distances of things further away from our solar system.


What units are used inside the solar system?

in the solar system, distances are measured in AU's which stand for atronomical units.


How to measure distances between celestial bodies?

the distance is measured in LIGHTYEARS.


What is the relation between angstrom and astronomical unit?

Both are units used to measure distances. An angstrom is 10-10 meters - a very small unit. An AU is the distance from Earth to Sun, used to compare distances in the Solar System - a distance of about 150 million kilometers.Both are units used to measure distances. An angstrom is 10-10 meters - a very small unit. An AU is the distance from Earth to Sun, used to compare distances in the Solar System - a distance of about 150 million kilometers.Both are units used to measure distances. An angstrom is 10-10 meters - a very small unit. An AU is the distance from Earth to Sun, used to compare distances in the Solar System - a distance of about 150 million kilometers.Both are units used to measure distances. An angstrom is 10-10 meters - a very small unit. An AU is the distance from Earth to Sun, used to compare distances in the Solar System - a distance of about 150 million kilometers.


Why are astronomical units used?

measuring distances in the solar system.


What are astronomical units usually used for?

measuring distances in the solar system


Is used to measure distance in the solar system is?

Inside our Solar System distances are measured in Astronomical Units (AU) which is the average distance from the Earth to the Sun, or about 93 million miles. Jupiter is about 5.5 AU distance from the sun or around 500 million miles. Distances outside our Solar System are usually measured in Light Years.


Why are astronomical units AU not use for measuring distances between celestial objects that lie outside the solar system?

Astronomical Units are too small to be a useful unit of measure, therefore light years are used.


Do astronomers measure the distancein the solar system in kilometers?

no the measure it in AU'S =ASTRONOMICAL UNITS


Are kilometers the most useful unit of measure when discussing objects in our solar sysytem?

You can use kilometers if you like. On the other hand, distances within the Solar System are often quoted in AU (astronomical units), where 1 astronomical unit is the distance from Sun to Earth. Such distances are easier to visualize.


Why are astronomical units necessary?

Because it would be impractical (very large numbers) to use kilometers, miles, or meters to measure distances in our solar system. This unit of measurement is used as it allows for comparisons to be done with relative ease, and all distances can be standardized. For this same reason when talking about anything outside of the solar system, light-years are used as the distances become drastically larger and too much for AUs to handle.


How are the distances measured in space?

There are two main units of distance used for measuring space distances, they are solar units and light years