Planets distance from sun au

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Understanding Planetary Distances from the Sun in Astronomical Units (AU)

Definition and Importance of the Astronomical Unit (AU)

The Astronomical Unit (AU) is a fundamental measurement in astronomy, representing the mean distance between the Earth and the Sun, approximately 150 million kilometers 13. This unit is crucial for scaling distances within our Solar System and beyond, providing a standardized measure for astronomers to compare and calculate the vast expanses of space 15.

Distances of Planets from the Sun in AU

Terrestrial Planets and Asteroids

The inner Solar System, comprising the rocky terrestrial planets and the asteroid belt, spans from about 0.39 AU to 4.2 AU from the Sun. This region includes Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, along with numerous asteroids .

Gas Giant Planets

Beyond the asteroid belt lie the gas giants: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. These planets are situated between 5 AU and 30 AU from the Sun. Their significant distances and massive sizes distinguish them from the inner rocky planets .

Kuiper Belt and Distant Objects

The Kuiper Belt, home to icy bodies and dwarf planets like Pluto, extends from 30 AU to 50 AU. Notably, objects such as Sedna and 2012 VP113 have been discovered with perihelion distances far greater than typical Kuiper Belt objects, at 76 AU and 80 AU respectively, suggesting the presence of an inner Oort cloud .

Hypothetical and Distant Planets

Recent hypotheses propose the existence of additional distant planets, such as the hypothetical "Planet Nine," which could have a semimajor axis between 500 AU and 1000 AU, with perihelion distances ranging from 200 AU to 400 AU 67. These distant objects could significantly influence the orbits of trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) and the overall dynamics of the Solar System 67.

Methods of Measuring Distances in AU

Historically, the distance from the Earth to the Sun was determined through observations of planetary transits, such as those of Venus. Modern techniques, including Doppler ranging and radar measurements, have significantly improved the precision of these measurements 15.

Conclusion

The concept of the Astronomical Unit is central to our understanding of the Solar System's structure. By measuring distances in AU, astronomers can accurately describe the positions and movements of planets, asteroids, and distant objects, enhancing our comprehension of the cosmos. The ongoing discovery of distant objects and hypothetical planets continues to challenge and expand our knowledge of the Solar System's boundaries.

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Most relevant research papers on this topic

The Astronomical Unit

The AU is the most basic unit of astronomy, and its determination is crucial for determining the sizes of planets' orbits and determining their distances from the Sun.

1991·

0citations

·W. Schlosser et al.

A Sedna-like body with a perihelion of 80 astronomical units

2012 VP113 confirms that Sedna and 2012 VP113 are not isolated objects, and may be members of the inner Oort cloud, which could outnumber other dynamically stable populations in the Solar System.

Highly Cited

2014·

253citations

·C. Trujillo et al.

Earth as a Planet

Earth has been referred by several names as Tellus (the Roman goddess of Earth and a symbol of fertility), Gaia (ancient Greek Earth goddess) and Terra, from the Latin meaning Earth. Earth is the third planet of our Solar System and is placed at a distance of about 150 million km from the Sun. The mean distance between Earth and Sun is used to measure distances within our Solar System. This is called an Astronomical Unit (AU). Detailed statistics of the earth are given in Tables 2.3, 2.5, and 2.6 (see Chap. 2).

Highly Cited

2014·

607citations

·Sreepat Jain

Solar System Wave Function

The Bode rule is based on the existence of a standing and cosine wave packet in the solar system, which also predicts the distance of Neptune from the Sun.

Preprint

2020·

0citations

·Abolfazl Soltani

O antigo adapta-se ao moderno: verificação do valor da Unidade Astronômica a partir do trânsito de Vênus reproduzido com o software Stellarium

The Halley's method using Venus transits in front of the Sun is adapted for modern technology, providing a 93.6% agreement with literature and making it suitable for classroom use.

2016·

0citations

·B. Rizzuti et al.

The fates of Solar system analogues with one additional distant planet

A distant extra planet with a mass of Jupiter and a semimajor axis exceeding 300 au or a super-Earth and a semimajor axis exceeding 3000 au is likely to incite future instability in systems with Sun-like stars and giant planets.

2016·

35citations

·D. Veras

The Influence of Planet Nine on the Orbits of Distant TNOs: The Case for a Low-perihelion Planet

Lower perihelion distances from an additional planet in the solar system can lead to more substantial confinements in distant trans-Neptunian objects, while maintaining the Classical Kuiper Belt and the ratio of detached objects to scattering objects.

2018·

4citations

·J. C'aceres et al.

Ultra-short-period Planets from Secular Chaos

Ultra-short-period planets may reach their current orbits via high-eccentricity migration, similar to hot Jupiters, and undergo orbital circularization due to dissipation from tides raised on the planet.

2018·

53citations

·C. Petrovich et al.

Images of a fourth planet orbiting HR 8799

The presence of a fourth planet in the HR 8799 system challenges current planet formation models, offering a unique laboratory for studying the formation and evolution of giant planets at wide distances.

Highly Cited

2010·

651citations

·Christian Marois et al.

Is there an exoplanet in the Solar System

Capture of the proposed Planet 9 from other stars in the Sun's birth cluster is a plausible scenario, potentially explaining its orbit and predicting a large population of trans-Neptunian objects.

2016·

45citations

·A. Mustill et al.

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