Convert length and distance units — meters, feet, inches, kilometers, miles, light years and more.
| Unit | Name | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 0.001 au | 1.496e+10 cm | |
| 0.01 au | 1.496e+11 cm | |
| 0.1 au | 1.496e+12 cm | |
| 1 au | 1.496e+13 cm | |
| 5 au | 7.48e+13 cm | |
| 10 au | 1.496e+14 cm | |
| 50 au | 7.48e+14 cm | |
| 100 au | 1.496e+15 cm | |
| 1000 au | 1.496e+16 cm |
Multiply the number of Astronomical Units by 1.496×1013 to get Centimeters. Formula: cm = au × 1.496×1013. Example: 10 au × 1.496×1013 = 1.496×1014 cm. To reverse, divide Centimeters by 1.496×1013 to get Astronomical Units.
| Astronomical Unit (au) | Centimeter (cm) |
|---|---|
| 0.001 au | 14960000000 cm |
| 0.01 au | 149600000000 cm |
| 0.1 au | 1.496×1012 cm |
| 0.5 au | 7.48×1012 cm |
| 1 au | 1.496×1013 cm |
| 2 au | 2.992×1013 cm |
| 5 au | 7.48×1013 cm |
| 10 au | 1.496×1014 cm |
| 20 au | 2.992×1014 cm |
| 50 au | 7.48×1014 cm |
| 100 au | 1.496×1015 cm |
| 250 au | 3.74×1015 cm |
| 500 au | 7.48×1015 cm |
| 1000 au | 1.496×1016 cm |
| 10000 au | 1.496×1017 cm |
To convert Astronomical Unit to Centimeter, multiply by 1.496×1013. Example: 10 au = 1.496×1014 cm
To convert Centimeter back to Astronomical Unit, divide by 1.496×1013 (multiply by 6.6845×10-14). Use the swap button above.
Start with 100 Astronomical Units = 1.496×1015 cm as your reference point. Scale up or down from there.
Solar irradiance is calculated using the inverse-square law with distance in AU, then converted to centimeters for CGS-unit equations that govern radiation transfer and heat flux calculations in atmospheric science.
The centimeter-gram-second (CGS) system is standard in many astrophysics calculations. Distances naturally expressed in AU for planetary contexts must be converted to centimeters for CGS-based equations and published results.
Atmospheric scientists model how solar radiation (at 1 AU = 1.496×10¹³ cm) drives weather and climate on planets — the AU-to-cm conversion is embedded in foundational atmospheric physics equations.
Cometary coma sizes are measured in centimeters during laboratory experiments, while comet positions and tail orientations are described in AU from the Sun — requiring conversion when correlating lab and observational data.
The solar wind propagates from the Sun across AU distances, but particle interactions and plasma physics calculations use centimeters as the natural unit — AU-to-cm conversion is routine in space plasma physics.
Parallax measurements used to determine stellar distances in parsecs and AU are expressed in arcseconds, with the corresponding physical displacements calculated in centimeters using AU-to-cm conversion.
The Astronomical Unit is a unit of Length measurement (symbol: au). 1 au = 1.496×1013 cm. Used in scientific and practical Length measurement applications.
The Centimeter is a unit of Length measurement (symbol: cm). It is part of an internationally recognised measurement system used alongside the Astronomical Unit.
The astronomical unit has ancient roots — Aristarchus of Samos attempted to measure the Earth-Sun distance around 270 BC, estimating it at 18–20 lunar distances (the true value is about 390). For centuries the AU was estimated using Venus transit observations and trigonometry. Edmond Halley organised the first coordinated international transit-of-Venus expedition in 1716 to measure it precisely. The modern value was determined by radar ranging to Venus in 1961. The IAU formally defined the AU as exactly 149,597,870,700 metres in 2012 — a fixed constant of physics, not a measured distance.
The centimetre was introduced in 1795 as part of the French metric system — one-hundredth of a metre, from the Latin 'centum' (hundred). The CGS (centimetre-gram-second) system, built around the centimetre, became the dominant scientific measurement system in the 19th century and remains standard in fields like astrophysics and electromagnetism today. Everyday use of centimetres spread globally as countries metricated through the 20th century. The centimetre is now the primary unit for human body measurements, clothing sizes, and everyday objects in most of the world.
Common use: Astronomical Unit to Centimeter conversion is needed when working with international standards, scientific publications, or reference materials that use different unit systems for Length measurement.