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  • Astronomical Unit (AU): Understanding Solar System Distances
    The unit used to measure large distances between objects in our solar system is the Astronomical Unit (AU).

    Here's why it's used:

    * Convenient Scale: Using kilometers or miles to express distances between planets would result in incredibly large and unwieldy numbers. The AU provides a more manageable scale.

    * Based on Earth's Orbit: One AU is defined as the average distance between the Earth and the Sun. This makes it a natural and relatable unit for measuring distances within our solar system.

    Here's a quick comparison:

    * 1 AU = 149.6 million kilometers = 93 million miles

    So, for example, Mars is about 1.5 AU from the Sun, while Jupiter is about 5.2 AU from the Sun.

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