Why do astronomers use astronomical units (AU) instead of kilometers (km)?(1 point)

Answer 1

Astronomers use astronomical units (AU) instead of kilometers (km) because the scale of distances in space is extremely large. Using kilometers would result in very large numbers that are difficult to comprehend. An astronomical unit is a more convenient unit of measurement that is based on the average distance between the Earth and the Sun, which is about 150 million kilometers. AU provides an easier way to express distances within the solar system, as it relates to familiar reference points.