Convert Astronomical Unit (AU) to Bohr Radius (a₀) instantly.
About these units
Astronomical Unit (AU)
The astronomical unit (AU) is one of the most important distance units in astronomy and planetary science. Defined as exactly 149,597,870,700 meters, it represents the average distance between Earth and the Sun. Early astronomers could estimate the AU only indirectly through geometric and observational methods; modern techniques such as radar ranging and spacecraft telemetry have vastly improved its precision. The AU serves as a natural and intuitive scale for describing distances within the solar system. Planetary orbits, asteroid trajectories, comet paths, and interplanetary mission distances are often expressed in astronomical units because they avoid cumbersome scientific notation. For instance, Jupiter orbits at about 5.2 AU from the Sun, while the asteroid belt lies roughly between 2 and 3.3 AU. Beyond practical measurement, the AU forms part of a conceptual framework for understanding solar system layout. It appears in discussions of habitable zones, solar radiation intensity, and celestial mechanics. The unit's significance extends from education to high-level astrophysics, making it one of astronomy's cornerstone measurements.
Bohr Radius (a₀)
The Bohr radius, equal to approximately 5.29177 × 10⁻¹¹ meters, is the most probable distance between the electron and nucleus in the ground state of hydrogen according to the Bohr model. While modern quantum mechanics has evolved far beyond the Bohr model, the radius remains a remarkably accurate approximation for average atomic dimensions. The Bohr radius acts as a natural "yardstick" for the size of atoms and is frequently used in atomic physics and quantum chemistry. Many atomic properties — orbital sizes, electron probability distributions, and energy levels — are conveniently expressed in multiples of the Bohr radius. Because it reflects fundamental constants, including Planck's constant and the electron charge, the Bohr radius also appears in theoretical analyses of physical systems and helps unify atomic physics concepts across different contexts.