Convert Yard to Astronomical Unit
Convert yards to astronomical units instantly. 1 yard = 6.112386e-12 astronomical unit — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Astronomical Unit to Yard converter for the reverse conversion.
Units explained
Yard
A yard is an Imperial and US customary unit of length equal to 3 feet or exactly 0.9144 meters. It is used for medium distances, particularly in athletics and fabric/textile measurement.
The yard's origin is contested but traditionally attributed to the length from the tip of King Henry I's nose to the end of his outstretched thumb. It was standardized in English law from the medieval period and definitively fixed at 0.9144 m exactly by the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement.
Yards are used in American football (10 yards for a first down), golf course distances, fabric and carpet sales in the US, and short-distance running events. The UK uses yards informally and on road signs for short distances.
Standardized in English law from the Middle Ages; fixed at 0.9144 m exactly by the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement.
Astronomical Unit
The astronomical unit (AU) is a unit of length equal to exactly 149,597,870,700 meters, approximately the average distance from Earth to the Sun. It is the fundamental unit for distance within the solar system.
The AU was originally defined as the semi-major axis of Earth's orbit. In 2012, IAU Resolution B2 redefined the AU as exactly 149,597,870,700 meters, severing its dependence on the actual fluctuating Earth–Sun distance.
AUs are used to express distances within the solar system (Mars: 1.5 AU, Pluto: ~40 AU at perihelion), exoplanet orbital radii, and other planetary-scale distances. Standard in planetary science and astronomy.
Original definition tied to Earth's orbit (Newton, 17th century); fixed at exactly 149,597,870,700 m by IAU Resolution B2 in 2012.
Yard to Astronomical Unit conversion formula
The relationship between yards and astronomical units:
To convert yards to astronomical units, multiply the value in yards by 6.112386e-12. To reverse, multiply astronomical units by 1.636022e+11.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in astronomical units updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Astronomical Unit to Yard converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert yards to astronomical units
- Write down the value in yards (yd).
- Multiply that value by the factor 6.112386e-12.
- The product is the equivalent value in astronomical units (AU).
- To reverse, multiply the astronomical unit value by 1.636022e+11.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 yd to AU:
1 × 6.112386e-12 = 6.112386e-12 AU
Example 2 — Convert 100 yd to AU:
100 × 6.112386e-12 = 6.112386e-10 AU
Real-world example — Adult height conversion
A 1.8-yard-tall person measures a value in astronomical units that converts the height to the unit favoured by American forms, schools, or driver's licences. This is daily routine for anyone living between metric and imperial systems.
1.8 yd × 6.112386e-12 = 1.10023e-11 AU
Real-world example — Fabric purchase length
Two yards of fabric equals a value in astronomical units essential for tailors and textile buyers sourcing material from international suppliers that quote in different units.
2 yd × 6.112386e-12 = 1.222477e-11 AU
Real-world example — Maritime depth conversion
A 10-yard sounding depth converts cleanly into astronomical units. Recreational divers and sailors translate between the two units whenever they read legacy charts against modern depth-sounder displays.
10 yd × 6.112386e-12 = 6.112386e-11 AU
Yard to Astronomical Unit conversion table
Standard reference values for converting yards to astronomical units:
| Yard [yd] | Astronomical Unit [AU] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 6.112386e-14 |
| 0.1 | 6.112386e-13 |
| 1 | 6.112386e-12 |
| 2 | 1.222477e-11 |
| 3 | 1.833716e-11 |
| 4 | 2.444955e-11 |
| 5 | 3.056193e-11 |
| 10 | 6.112386e-11 |
| 20 | 1.222477e-10 |
| 30 | 1.833716e-10 |
| 40 | 2.444955e-10 |
| 50 | 3.056193e-10 |
| 100 | 6.112386e-10 |
| 500 | 3.056193e-9 |
| 1000 | 6.112386e-9 |
Frequently asked questions
How many astronomical units is 1 yard?
How do I convert yards to astronomical units?
How do I convert astronomical units back to yards?
How many astronomical units is 100 yards?
Popular length unit conversions
Convert Yard to other length units
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Metric / SI (18 units)
Imperial / US Customary (26 units)
Nautical (1 units)
Astronomical (9 units)
Atomic / Physics (6 units)
Typographic (3 units)
Sources & references
Conversion factor (1 yd = 6.112386e-12 AU) verified against the following authoritative sources:
- BIPM — The International System of Units (SI Brochure 9th ed.)
Official BIPM publication defining the seven SI base units (including the meter) and the rules for their use. The global authority on units of measurement.
- NIST — Guide to the SI
US National Institute of Standards and Technology reference covering the SI base and derived units with definitions and usage rules for US technical practice.
- NIST Special Publication 811 — Guide for the Use of the International System of Units
Detailed NIST guide covering exact conversion factors between SI and US customary units along with formatting and rounding conventions.
- NIST — Refinement of values for the yard and pound (Federal Register 1959)
The treaty (signed by US
- International Astronomical Union — System of Astronomical Constants
The IAU defines astronomical units including the AU (149597870700 m exactly) light-year and parsec used in astronomy and astrophysics.