How Distance Calculated in Space


🌌 What is AU?

AU = Astronomical Unit

1️⃣ What does AU mean?

  • AU is a special unit used to measure distances in space.
  • 1 AU is the distance from the Earth to the Sun.

2️⃣ How long is 1 AU?

  • 1 AU ≈ 150 million kilometers
  • Scientists use AU to measure distances inside our solar system.

3️⃣ Example using AU

  • Earth to Sun = 1 AU
  • Mars to Sun ≈ 1.5 AU
  • Jupiter to Sun ≈ 5 AU

🌠 What is a Light Year?

1️⃣ What does Light Year mean?

  • A Light Year is not time — it is distance.
  • It tells us how far light travels in one year.

2️⃣ How fast is light?

  • Light is very fast: 300,000 km per second!
  • In one year, light travels a huge distance.

3️⃣ How long is 1 Light Year?

  • 1 Light Year ≈ 9.5 trillion kilometers
  • It is used to measure distances between stars and galaxies.

🌍 Easy way to remember

UnitUsed forExample
AUInside solar systemEarth–Sun
Light YearBetween starsNearest star

🧠 Simple memory trick

AU = Sun distances
Light Year = Star distances


⭐ Fun fact

  • Sunlight takes 8 minutes to reach Earth.
  • The nearest star (after the Sun) is 4.3 light years away!

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