why do astronomers use astronomical units (AU) instead of kilometers

A. there are no km in outer space, only AU
B. AU is used for spacing, while km is used for length
C. large distance are easier to express in AU than in km
D. AU is used in astronomy, while km is used in physics

1 answer

The correct answer is:

C. large distances are easier to express in AU than in km.

Astronomical units (AU) are particularly useful for measuring distances within our solar system because the distances are vast. Using AU simplifies the numbers involved; for example, the average distance from the Earth to the Sun is defined as 1 AU, while this distance in kilometers (approximately 149.6 million kilometers) is much larger and more cumbersome to work with.