Meter to Astronomical Unit Converter

A meter (m) is the base unit of length in the International System of Units (SI). Originally defined as one ten-millionth of the distance from the Earth's equator to the North Pole, it is now defined by the speed of light in vacuum.

The meter was first defined in 1793 during the French Revolution as part of the metric system. Initially based on Earth's dimensions, it was later redefined using a platinum-iridium bar (1889), then by wavelengths of light (1960), and finally in 1983 by the distance light travels in vacuum in 1/299,792,458 of a second.

The meter is universally used in science, engineering, and most countries for everyday measurements. It's the standard for construction, manufacturing, sports (track and field), and scientific research. Most countries use meters for height, room dimensions, and short to medium distances.

An astronomical unit (AU) is a unit of length approximately equal to the average distance from Earth to the Sun, defined as exactly 149,597,870.7 kilometers or about 93 million miles.

The astronomical unit was originally defined as the semi-major axis of Earth's orbit around the Sun. It was first estimated by Giovanni Cassini in 1672 and has been refined over centuries. In 2012, the International Astronomical Union redefined it as an exact value rather than a measured quantity.

Astronomical units are primarily used for measuring distances within the solar system, including distances between planets, asteroids, and comets. They're standard in planetary science, space mission planning, and solar system astronomy.