In astronomical terms, what does an astronomical unit (AU) represent?

An astronomical unit (AU) is defined as the average distance from the Earth to the Sun, which is approximately 93 million miles or about 150 million kilometers. This unit is primarily used in astronomy to describe distances within our solar system, providing a convenient way to express distances between astronomical objects relative to the Earth-Sun distance.

By using the astronomical unit, astronomers can easily compare the distances of planets and other celestial bodies from the Sun, which is central to understanding their orbits and the dynamics of our solar system. The average distance to the Sun serves as a baseline for measuring distances to other planets, making it fundamentally important in the field of astronomy.