Orpington Astronomical Society

Astronomy => Alerts! Questions? Discussions... => Topic started by: doug on Jan 15, 2009, 09:23:52

Title: Distant spacecraft
Post by: doug on Jan 15, 2009, 09:23:52

     Looking at the Heavens Above site, thee is a link on it that shows spacecraft going out of the Solar System, such as the Voyager and the other older probes.  The table gives varying measurements for each of the spacecraft, such as distance from the Sun, etc, and one of the is distance in AU... astronomical units?...   Please would somebody enlighten me as to the size of one AU, as I have been told but can`t remember.  Thank you, then I can relate it to the table on the site.  Doug.

     
Title: Re: Distant spacecraft
Post by: Mac on Jan 15, 2009, 09:36:54
1au is the average distance from the earth to the sun,
and is about 93 million miles.
Title: Re: Distant spacecraft
Post by: Fay on Jan 15, 2009, 11:12:36
Doug, you are really making good use of the Forum, now     :D
Title: Re: Distant spacecraft
Post by: doug on Jan 15, 2009, 15:40:38

     Thanks Mac, and you too, Fay.