How Far are the Planets from the Sun?
Written by Fraser Cain
Question: How far away are the planets?
Answer: To answer this question, we'll consider the distance from each of the planets to the Sun. Before we start though, there's a term in astronomy that you'll want to remember: astronomical unit. One astronomical unit (or AU) is the distance from the Earth to the Sun.
You should also note that all of the planets orbit the Sun in ellipses. This means that their distance to the Sun varies depending on what point they are in their orbits. Astronomers call the closest point perihelion, and the most distant point aphelion.
As a special bonus, I'll also let you know the closest point that each of the planets gets to Earth.
Mercury
Closest: 46 million km (.307 AU)
Furthest: 70 million km (.466 AU)
Average: 57 million km (.387 AU)
Closest to Mercury from Earth: 77.3 million km
Here are some Mercury interesting facts.
Venus
Closest: 107 million km (.718 AU)
Furthest: 109 million km (.728 AU)
Average: 108 million km (.722 AU)
Closest to Venus from Earth: 40 million km
Mars
Closest: 205 million km (1.38 AU)
Furthest: 249 million km (1.66 AU)
Average: 228 million km (1.52 AU)
Closest to Mars from Earth: 65 million km
Jupiter
Closest: 741 million km (4.95 AU)
Furthest: 817 million km (5.46 AU)
Average: 779 million km (5.20 AU)
Closest to Jupiter from Earth: 588 million km
Saturn
Closest: 1.35 billion km (9.05 AU)
Furthest: 1.51 billion km (10.12 AU)
Average: 1.43 billion km (9.58 AU)
Closest to Saturn from Earth: 2.57 billion km
Uranus
Closest: 2.75 billion km (18.4 AU)
Furthest: 3.00 billion km (20.1 AU)
Average: 2.88 billion km (19.2 AU)
Closest to Uranus from Earth: 2.57 billion km
Neptune
Closest: 4.45 billion km (29.8 AU)
Furthest: 4.55 billion km (30.4 AU)
Average: 4.50 billion km (30.1 AU)
Closest to Neptune from Earth: 4.3 billion km
As a special bonus, we'll include Pluto too, even though Pluto is not a planet anymore.
Pluto
Closest: 4.44 billion km (29.7 AU)
Furthest: 7.38 billion km (49.3 AU)
Average: 5.91 billion km (39.5 AU)
Closest to Pluto from Earth: 4.28 billion km
Filed under: Questions
May 1st, 2008 at 9:46 am
Hey! How 'bout the Earth? Ain't it a planet too?
May 1st, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Hey! How about the distance from Saturn to Earth? I'm confused!!
May 1st, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Saturn gets closer to Earth than Uranus… around 1.2 billion km from Earth….
May 2nd, 2008 at 3:31 am
how many moons as mars got
May 2nd, 2008 at 3:32 am
hey i'm confused
May 2nd, 2008 at 3:38 am
hey is any one there because i need help
May 2nd, 2008 at 10:37 am
lee - For your reading pleasure:
http://www.nineplanets.org/