Definition of Astronomical Unit

1. Noun. A unit of length used for distances within the solar system; equal to the mean distance between the Earth and the Sun (approximately 93 million miles or 150 million kilometers).

Exact synonyms: Au
Generic synonyms: Astronomy Unit

Definition of Astronomical Unit

1. Noun. (astronomy) The mean distance from the Earth to the Sun (the semi-major axis of Earth's orbit), approximately 149,600,000 kilometres (''symbol'' AU), used to measure distances in the solar system. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Lexicographical Neighbors of Astronomical Unit

astronautically
astronautics
astronauts
astronavigation
astronavigator
astronavigators
astronomer
astronomers
astronometrical
astronomian
astronomians
astronomic
astronomical telescope
astronomical twilight
astronomical unit
astronomical units
astronomical year
astronomical years
astronomically
astronomick
astronomies
astronomist
astronomists
astronomize
astronomized
astronomizes
astronomizing
astronomy
astronomy satellite

Literary usage of Astronomical Unit

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. A Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism by James Clerk Maxwell (1904)
"... and therefore 1-' grammes as the astronomical unit of mass; while Cornu'i own experiments give- as the mean density of the earth, and 1-41) x 10' ..."

2. A Treatise on Elementary Dynamics for the Use of Colleges and Schools by William Garnett (1889)
"As another example, we will consider the dimensions of the Astronomical unit of mass in terms of the fundamental units. The Astronomical unit of mass is ..."

3. An Elementary Treatise on Dynamics: Containing Applications to by Benjamin Williamson, Francis Alexander Tarleton (1889)
"What is meant by the Astronomical Unit of Mass? The astronomical unit of mass is ... Let M denote the mass of the Earth, and m that of the astronomical unit ..."

4. Elements of the Theory of the Newtonian Potential Function by Benjamin Osgood Peirce (1902)
"The astronomical unit of mass in any length-mass- time system is the mass ... The astronomical unit of mass concentrated at a point at a unit distance from ..."

5. The Mechanics of Engineering by Augustus Jay Du Bois (1902)
"Astronomical Unit of Mass. — That mass which attracts an equal mass at unit distance with unit force is called the Astronomical Unit OF MASS. ..."

6. Scientific Papers by George Howard Darwin, Francis Darwin, Ernest William Brown (1908)
"Let the unit of length be such that M + m, when measured in the astronomical unit, may be equal to unity. Let the unit of time be such that s or ..."

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