Average Distances Between the Sun and Each Planet

Question

Planets Approximate Distance (km) Approximate Distance (AU) Approximate Distance (cm) Scale begin inline style 1 AU equals 2 space cm end style
Mercury 58,000,000 0.4 0.8
Venus 108,000,000 0.7 1.4
Earth 150,000,000 1 2
Mars 228,000,000 1.5 3.0
Jupiter 778,000,000 5.2 10.4
Saturn 1,427,000,000 9.5 19.0
Uranus 2,871,000,000 19.2 38.4
Neptune 4,498,000,000 30 60.0How far apart are Earth and Saturn? What distance in AU does this represent?

Answer 1

To determine the distance between Earth and Saturn, we can subtract the distance of Earth from the distance of Saturn.

Distance from Earth to Saturn:

• Distance of Saturn from the Sun: 1,427,000,000 km
• Distance of Earth from the Sun: 150,000,000 km

Now calculate the difference:

\[ \text{Distance from Earth to Saturn} = \text{Distance of Saturn} - \text{Distance of Earth} = 1,427,000,000 \text{ km} - 150,000,000 \text{ km} = 1,277,000,000 \text{ km} \]

Next, we can convert this distance into Astronomical Units (AU):

The distance of 1 AU is approximately 150,000,000 km (the distance from the Earth to the Sun). Therefore, the distance in AU is:

\[ \text{Distance in AU} = \frac{\text{Distance from Earth to Saturn in km}}{1 \text{ AU}} \]

\[ \text{Distance in AU} = \frac{1,277,000,000 \text{ km}}{150,000,000 \text{ km/AU}} \approx 8.5 \text{ AU} \]

So, the distance between Earth and Saturn is approximately 1,277,000,000 kilometers or 8.5 AU.