Convert Nautical Miles to Astronomical Units
Convert Nautical Miles (nmi) to Astronomical Units (AU) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
AU = nmi × 1.237985535e-8
About Nautical Miles
A nautical mile (nmi) is equal to 1,852 meters or approximately 1.15078 statute miles, based on one minute of arc along Earth's meridian. This unit is the standard for maritime and aviation navigation worldwide because it directly relates to Earth's geometry, making navigation calculations simpler. Ships and aircraft measure speed in knots (nautical miles per hour). The distance between parallels of latitude is almost exactly 60 nautical miles. International maritime law uses nautical miles to define territorial waters and exclusive economic zones.
About Astronomical Units
An astronomical unit (AU) is the average distance between Earth and the Sun, precisely defined as 149,597,870.7 kilometers. This unit provides a convenient scale for measuring distances within our solar system. Mars orbits at 1.5 AU, Jupiter at 5.2 AU, and Neptune at about 30 AU from the Sun. The dwarf planet Pluto reaches up to 49 AU away. Light takes about 8.3 minutes to travel 1 AU, explaining why we see the Sun as it was 8 minutes ago. The AU is fundamental in astronomy and space exploration.
Quick Reference Table
| Nautical Miles (nmi) | Astronomical Units (AU) |
|---|---|
| 1 nmi | 1.238 × 10-8 AU |
| 2 nmi | 2.476 × 10-8 AU |
| 5 nmi | 6.19 × 10-8 AU |
| 10 nmi | 1.238 × 10-7 AU |
| 25 nmi | 3.095 × 10-7 AU |
| 50 nmi | 6.19 × 10-7 AU |
| 100 nmi | 1.238 × 10-6 AU |