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I don't think they are "important"; but they are convenient units of length - AU for distances within the Solar System (or other comparable distances); light-years (and parsecs) for larger distances.
Wiki User
∙ 8y ago
Wiki User
∙ 6y agoBecause once we get to measurements on stellar and galactic scales, the distances get ridiculously enormous; If we stick to km or m, it is a headache to write so many digits every time. Thus, we use larger distance measurements such as AUs (1 AU = distance from Sun to Earth) and Light Years (Distance light travels in one year).
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoThey are used in astronomy because to use kilometres would lead to very large numbers - astronomically large in fact.
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How many light years in an AU?
1 AU = 0.0000158 light-years
How many minutes does it take light to travel from the sun to sedna?
Sedna, a "dwarf planet" far beyond the orbit of Neptune, has a highly elliptical orbit with a perihelion of 76AU, or about 631 light-minutes from the Sun, and an aphelion of 975 AU, or about 8,093 light-minutes or 5.6 light-DAYS.
What unit do astronomers usually use to measure distances in the solar system and how is it abbreviated?
Distances within the solar system are usually reported in kilometers or AUs.1 AU = average distance of Earth from the Sun, about 150 million kilometers (149,597,871 km).Nearby . . . miles or kilometersOut past that . . . AU (Astronomical Units)Out past that . . . Light YearsOut past that . . . Parsecs
How far away from Earth is Sirious the star?
8.6 light years8.6 light years8.6 light years8.6 light years
How long does it take a star's light that is 7 light years away from Earth to reach Earth?
It's exactly 7 light years away.One light year is the distance that light travels through space in one year.7 of those is a distance of something like 41,150,289,900,000 miles.
How many light years in an AU?
1 AU = 0.0000158 light-years
How many au is 600 light years?
600 light-years is 37,944,646.2 AU
How many AU are in 16 light years?
16 light years is 1,011,834.75 AU (Astronomical Units).
How many AU's are there in 16 light-years?
2.25 AU
How many Au is 1000 light years?
They really are not comparable. Light travels 186,000 miles per second, and one AU is about 8.3 light-MINUTES. You can probably do the math, from minutes to hours to days to years as well as I can. Or, you could google "1000 light years in AU" and get the answer
What is 35.2 AU in light-years?
35.2 AU = roughly 0.000557 light-year (rounded)
How is Saturn from the sun in light years?
Saturn is approximately 9.5 AU from the sun, which is about 0.00015 light years.
How many AUs is 5.5 light years?
5.5 light years equates to 347,818.194 AU (Astronomical Units).
What measurements are used to measure space?
(LY) Light Years and (AU) Astronomical Unit.
What the scientists use to distance in outer space?
Light Years or AU (Astronomical units). It depends on what you are mesuring. For example the distance to the nearest star besides the sun is aproximitly 4.2 light years away vs. the earth is 1 AU away from the sun. (the au is the distance between the earth and the sun)
When was Au Sable Light created?
Au Sable Light was created in 1874.
Is an AU larger than a light year?
No. A light year is about 63,000 AU.
