Convert length and distance units — meters, feet, inches, kilometers, miles, light years and more.
| Unit | Name | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 0.001 au | 1.496e+08 m | |
| 0.01 au | 1.496e+09 m | |
| 0.1 au | 1.496e+10 m | |
| 1 au | 1.496e+11 m | |
| 5 au | 7.48e+11 m | |
| 10 au | 1.496e+12 m | |
| 50 au | 7.48e+12 m | |
| 100 au | 1.496e+13 m | |
| 1000 au | 1.496e+14 m |
Multiply the number of Astronomical Units by 149600000000 to get Meters. Formula: m = au × 149600000000. Example: 10 au × 149600000000 = 1.496×1012 m. To reverse, divide Meters by 149600000000 to get Astronomical Units.
| Astronomical Unit (au) | Meter (m) |
|---|---|
| 0.001 au | 149600000 m |
| 0.01 au | 1496000000 m |
| 0.1 au | 14960000000 m |
| 0.5 au | 74800000000 m |
| 1 au | 149600000000 m |
| 2 au | 299200000000 m |
| 5 au | 748000000000 m |
| 10 au | 1.496×1012 m |
| 20 au | 2.992×1012 m |
| 50 au | 7.48×1012 m |
| 100 au | 1.496×1013 m |
| 250 au | 3.74×1013 m |
| 500 au | 7.48×1013 m |
| 1000 au | 1.496×1014 m |
| 10000 au | 1.496×1015 m |
To convert Astronomical Unit to Meter, multiply by 149600000000. Example: 10 au = 1.496×1012 m
To convert Meter back to Astronomical Unit, divide by 149600000000 (multiply by 6.6845×10-12). Use the swap button above.
Start with 100 Astronomical Units = 1.496×1013 m as your reference point. Scale up or down from there.
Orbital mechanics equations in SI units require distances in meters. Spacecraft trajectories expressed in AU for mission planning must be converted to meters for Keplerian orbit equations and numerical integration.
The inverse-square law of solar irradiance uses distance in meters: S = L/(4πd²). With the Sun-Earth distance = 1 AU = 1.496×10¹¹ m, this conversion is embedded in every solar energy and climate model.
Newton's law of gravitation uses meters in SI form. Calculating gravitational forces between planets and the Sun requires converting orbital radii from AU to meters for consistent SI unit calculations.
Radar range measurements to planets return distances in meters (from signal travel time). These are converted to AU for reporting and back to meters for detailed orbital fitting calculations.
Solar wind and magnetosphere researchers need distances in meters for plasma physics equations (magnetic field strength, particle gyroradii) while planetary distances are naturally described in AU.
The AU was officially defined as exactly 149,597,870,700 meters in 2012. This exact SI definition makes the AU-to-meter conversion a cornerstone of international astronomical standards.
The Astronomical Unit is a unit of Length measurement (symbol: au). 1 au = 149600000000 m. Used in scientific and practical Length measurement applications.
The Meter is a unit of Length measurement (symbol: m). 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. 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 metre was born from the French Revolution's desire to replace chaotic pre-metric measurement with a rational universal standard. In 1791 the French Academy of Sciences defined it as one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole along the Paris meridian. Early prototypes were made in platinum; a more precise platinum-iridium bar was created in 1889. In 1983, the metre was redefined using the speed of light — exactly the distance light travels in 1/299,792,458 of a second. Today it is the world's most widely used unit of length.
Common use: Astronomical Unit to Meter conversion is needed when working with international standards, scientific publications, or reference materials that use different unit systems for Length measurement.