Atlas of Worlds

Scale comparison

How far is each world from the Sun?

Pluto is farthest: 39.48 AU. One-way light time: 5.47 hours. Mercury is closest: 0.3871 AU.

Distance from the Sun ranked comparisonHow far is each world from the Sun? Bars begin at the Sun; 12 of 12 worlds are ranked. Earth is Atlas’s default baseline and the reference marker. A bracket joins each shared rank; Atlas does not distinguish order at the stored tolerance. Of the 12 world rows, 1 positive-value bar is shown at a fixed locator minimum and is not proportional below it; use value labels and the table for exact comparison.Earthreference1Pluto39.48 AU2Neptune30.07 AU3Uranus19.19 AU4=Saturn9.537 AU4=Titan9.537 AU6=Europa5.203 AU6=Jupiter5.203 AU8Mars1.524 AU9=Earth1.000 AU9=Moon1.000 AU11Venus0.7233 AU12Mercury0.3871 AU
Distance from the Sun values run from highest to lowest; bars start at the Sun. Earth is the reference. A bracket means Atlas does not distinguish order at the stored tolerance. Of the 12 world rows, 1 positive-value bar is shown at a fixed locator minimum and is not proportional below it; use value labels and the table for exact comparison.
Values / method / sources

Values and sources

The chart, in inspectable form.

Every row keeps its reference level, resolution state, and source attached. Derived means Atlas calculated the value from published inputs with a registered formula.

Published comparison values. Distance from the Sun is shown in AU; ratios use Earth as the reference. Shared ranks use the stored comparison tolerance.
RankWorldValuevs. EarthReference levelStateEvidence
Pluto39.48 AUOne-way light time: 5.47 hours39.5×Not applicableSettled
Source passportSettledNASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center

Source passport: Pluto

Published value
39.48 AU
Primary source
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center
Definition
heliocentric orbital semimajor axis from the J2000 mean orbital elements
Reference level
Not applicable
Epoch
Not tied to a stated epoch
Resolution state
Settled

Provenance details

Uncertainty
Not stated
Alternatives
No competing admissible value
Value ID
pluto:heliocentric_distance:heliocentric_orbital_semimajor_axis:nasa_nssdc_pluto_fact_sheet_archive:0
Dataset version
0.1

Sources

  1. Pluto Fact Sheet (2024-02-04 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterNASA NSSDC. Pluto Fact Sheet. Archived 2024-02-04; retrieved 2026-09-02.Locator: Pluto Mean Orbital Elements (J2000), Semimajor axis (AU): 39.48168677Retrieved 2026-09-02 · published Not statedTier B · us-government-work · reuse allowedThe live NSSDC host was unavailable during review, so Atlas cites a dated, immutable capture transparently. Each candidate locator transcribes the cited field's label, value, and unit.
Neptune30.07 AUOne-way light time: 4.17 hours30.1×Not applicableSettled
Source passportSettledNASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center

Source passport: Neptune

Published value
30.07 AU
Primary source
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center
Definition
heliocentric orbital semimajor axis from the J2000 mean orbital elements
Reference level
Not applicable
Epoch
Not tied to a stated epoch
Resolution state
Settled

Provenance details

Uncertainty
Not stated
Alternatives
No competing admissible value
Value ID
neptune:heliocentric_distance:heliocentric_orbital_semimajor_axis:nasa_nssdc_neptune_fact_sheet_archive:0
Dataset version
0.1

Sources

  1. Neptune Fact Sheet (2024-10-06 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterNASA NSSDC. Neptune Fact Sheet. Archived 2024-10-06; retrieved 2026-08-30.Locator: Neptune Mean Orbital Elements (J2000), Semimajor axis (AU): 30.06896348Retrieved 2026-08-30 · published Not statedTier B · us-government-work · reuse allowedThe live NSSDC host was unavailable during review, so Atlas cites a dated, immutable capture transparently. Each candidate locator transcribes the cited field's label, value, and unit.
Uranus19.19 AUOne-way light time: 2.66 hours19.2×Not applicableSettled
Source passportSettledNASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center

Source passport: Uranus

Published value
19.19 AU
Primary source
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center
Definition
heliocentric orbital semimajor axis from the J2000 mean orbital elements
Reference level
Not applicable
Epoch
Not tied to a stated epoch
Resolution state
Settled

Provenance details

Uncertainty
Not stated
Alternatives
No competing admissible value
Value ID
uranus:heliocentric_distance:heliocentric_orbital_semimajor_axis:nasa_nssdc_uranus_fact_sheet_archive:0
Dataset version
0.1

Sources

  1. Uranus Fact Sheet (2024-10-07 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterNASA NSSDC. Uranus Fact Sheet. Archived 2024-10-07; retrieved 2026-08-30.Locator: Uranus Mean Orbital Elements (J2000), Semimajor axis (AU): 19.19126393Retrieved 2026-08-30 · published Not statedTier B · us-government-work · reuse allowedThe live NSSDC host was unavailable during review, so Atlas cites a dated, immutable capture transparently. Each candidate locator transcribes the cited field's label, value, and unit.
Saturn9.537 AUOne-way light time: 79.3 minutes9.54×Not applicableSettled
Source passportSettledNASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center

Source passport: Saturn

Published value
9.537 AU
Primary source
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center
Definition
heliocentric orbital semimajor axis from the J2000 mean orbital elements
Reference level
Not applicable
Epoch
Not tied to a stated epoch
Resolution state
Settled

Provenance details

Uncertainty
Not stated
Alternatives
No competing admissible value
Value ID
saturn:heliocentric_distance:heliocentric_orbital_semimajor_axis:nasa_nssdc_saturn_fact_sheet_archive:0
Dataset version
0.1

Sources

  1. Saturn Fact Sheet (2024-10-04 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterNASA NSSDC. Saturn Fact Sheet. Archived 2024-10-04; retrieved 2026-08-30.Locator: Saturn Mean Orbital Elements (J2000), Semimajor axis (AU): 9.53707032Retrieved 2026-08-30 · published Not statedTier B · us-government-work · reuse allowedThe live NSSDC host was unavailable during review, so Atlas cites a dated, immutable capture transparently. Each candidate locator transcribes the cited field's label, value, and unit.
Titan9.537 AUOne-way light time: 79.3 minutes9.54×Not applicableDerived
Source passportDerivedNASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center

Source passport: Titan

Published value
9.537 AU
Primary source
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center
Definition
heliocentric orbital semimajor axis from the J2000 mean orbital elements
Reference level
Not applicable
Epoch
Not tied to a stated epoch
Resolution state
Derived

Provenance details

Uncertainty
Not stated
Alternatives
No competing admissible value
Value ID
titan:heliocentric_distance:heliocentric_orbital_semimajor_axis:heliocentric_distance_from_parent_system:0
Dataset version
0.1

Atlas derivation

Formula: Distance from the Sun inherited from the parent system heliocentric_distance_from_parent_system

  1. Distance from the Sun: 9.537 AUheliocentric orbital semimajor axis from the J2000 mean orbital elementsNASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Centersaturn:heliocentric_distance:heliocentric_orbital_semimajor_axis:nasa_nssdc_saturn_fact_sheet_archive:0

Sources

  1. Saturn Fact Sheet (2024-10-04 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterNASA NSSDC. Saturn Fact Sheet. Archived 2024-10-04; retrieved 2026-08-30.Locator: Saturn Mean Orbital Elements (J2000), Semimajor axis (AU): 9.53707032Retrieved 2026-08-30 · published Not statedTier B · us-government-work · reuse allowedThe live NSSDC host was unavailable during review, so Atlas cites a dated, immutable capture transparently. Each candidate locator transcribes the cited field's label, value, and unit.
Europa5.203 AUOne-way light time: 43.3 minutes5.2×Not applicableDerived
Source passportDerivedNASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center

Source passport: Europa

Published value
5.203 AU
Primary source
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center
Definition
heliocentric orbital semimajor axis from the J2000 mean orbital elements
Reference level
Not applicable
Epoch
Not tied to a stated epoch
Resolution state
Derived

Provenance details

Uncertainty
Not stated
Alternatives
No competing admissible value
Value ID
europa:heliocentric_distance:heliocentric_orbital_semimajor_axis:heliocentric_distance_from_parent_system:0
Dataset version
0.1

Atlas derivation

Formula: Distance from the Sun inherited from the parent system heliocentric_distance_from_parent_system

  1. Distance from the Sun: 5.203 AUheliocentric orbital semimajor axis from the J2000 mean orbital elementsNASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Centerjupiter:heliocentric_distance:heliocentric_orbital_semimajor_axis:nasa_nssdc_jupiter_fact_sheet_archive:0

Sources

  1. Jupiter Fact Sheet (2024-10-04 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterNASA NSSDC. Jupiter Fact Sheet. Archived 2024-10-04; retrieved 2026-09-02.Locator: Jupiter Mean Orbital Elements (J2000), Semimajor axis (AU): 5.20336301Retrieved 2026-09-02 · published Not statedTier B · us-government-work · reuse allowedThe live NSSDC host was unavailable during review, so Atlas cites a dated, immutable capture transparently. Each candidate locator transcribes the cited field's label, value, and unit.
Jupiter5.203 AUOne-way light time: 43.3 minutes5.2×Not applicableSettled
Source passportSettledNASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center

Source passport: Jupiter

Published value
5.203 AU
Primary source
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center
Definition
heliocentric orbital semimajor axis from the J2000 mean orbital elements
Reference level
Not applicable
Epoch
Not tied to a stated epoch
Resolution state
Settled

Provenance details

Uncertainty
Not stated
Alternatives
No competing admissible value
Value ID
jupiter:heliocentric_distance:heliocentric_orbital_semimajor_axis:nasa_nssdc_jupiter_fact_sheet_archive:0
Dataset version
0.1

Sources

  1. Jupiter Fact Sheet (2024-10-04 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterNASA NSSDC. Jupiter Fact Sheet. Archived 2024-10-04; retrieved 2026-09-02.Locator: Jupiter Mean Orbital Elements (J2000), Semimajor axis (AU): 5.20336301Retrieved 2026-09-02 · published Not statedTier B · us-government-work · reuse allowedThe live NSSDC host was unavailable during review, so Atlas cites a dated, immutable capture transparently. Each candidate locator transcribes the cited field's label, value, and unit.
Mars1.524 AUOne-way light time: 12.7 minutes1.52×Not applicableSettled
Source passportSettledNASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center

Source passport: Mars

Published value
1.524 AU
Primary source
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center
Definition
heliocentric orbital semimajor axis from the J2000 mean orbital elements
Reference level
Not applicable
Epoch
Not tied to a stated epoch
Resolution state
Settled

Provenance details

Uncertainty
Not stated
Alternatives
No competing admissible value
Value ID
mars:heliocentric_distance:heliocentric_orbital_semimajor_axis:nasa_nssdc_mars_fact_sheet_archive:0
Dataset version
0.1

Sources

  1. Mars Fact Sheet (2024-09-15 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterNASA NSSDC. Mars Fact Sheet. Archived 2024-09-15; retrieved 2026-08-30.Locator: Mars Mean Orbital Elements (J2000), Semimajor axis (AU): 1.52366231Retrieved 2026-08-30 · published Not statedTier B · us-government-work · reuse allowedThe live NSSDC host was unavailable during review, so Atlas cites a dated, immutable capture transparently. Each candidate locator transcribes the cited field's label, value, and unit.
EarthDefault baselineReference1.000 AUOne-way light time: 8.32 minutes1×Not applicableSettled
Source passportSettledNASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center

Source passport: Earth

Published value
1.000 AU
Primary source
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center
Definition
heliocentric orbital semimajor axis from the J2000 mean orbital elements
Reference level
Not applicable
Epoch
Not tied to a stated epoch
Resolution state
Settled

Provenance details

Uncertainty
Not stated
Alternatives
No competing admissible value
Value ID
earth:heliocentric_distance:heliocentric_orbital_semimajor_axis:nasa_nssdc_earth_fact_sheet_archive:0
Dataset version
0.1

Sources

  1. Earth Fact Sheet (2024-11-16 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterNASA NSSDC. Earth Fact Sheet. Archived 2024-11-16; retrieved 2026-09-02.Locator: Earth Mean Orbital Elements (J2000), Semimajor axis (AU): 1.00000011Retrieved 2026-09-02 · published Not statedTier B · us-government-work · reuse allowedThe live NSSDC host was unavailable during review, so Atlas cites a dated, immutable capture transparently. Each candidate locator transcribes the cited field's label, value, and unit.
Moon1.000 AUOne-way light time: 8.32 minutes1×Not applicableDerived
Source passportDerivedNASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center

Source passport: Moon

Published value
1.000 AU
Primary source
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center
Definition
heliocentric orbital semimajor axis from the J2000 mean orbital elements
Reference level
Not applicable
Epoch
Not tied to a stated epoch
Resolution state
Derived

Provenance details

Uncertainty
Not stated
Alternatives
No competing admissible value
Value ID
moon:heliocentric_distance:heliocentric_orbital_semimajor_axis:heliocentric_distance_from_parent_system:0
Dataset version
0.1

Atlas derivation

Formula: Distance from the Sun inherited from the parent system heliocentric_distance_from_parent_system

  1. Distance from the Sun: 1.000 AUheliocentric orbital semimajor axis from the J2000 mean orbital elementsNASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Centerearth:heliocentric_distance:heliocentric_orbital_semimajor_axis:nasa_nssdc_earth_fact_sheet_archive:0

Sources

  1. Earth Fact Sheet (2024-11-16 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterNASA NSSDC. Earth Fact Sheet. Archived 2024-11-16; retrieved 2026-09-02.Locator: Earth Mean Orbital Elements (J2000), Semimajor axis (AU): 1.00000011Retrieved 2026-09-02 · published Not statedTier B · us-government-work · reuse allowedThe live NSSDC host was unavailable during review, so Atlas cites a dated, immutable capture transparently. Each candidate locator transcribes the cited field's label, value, and unit.
Venus0.7233 AUOne-way light time: 6.02 minutes0.723×Not applicableSettled
Source passportSettledNASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center

Source passport: Venus

Published value
0.7233 AU
Primary source
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center
Definition
heliocentric orbital semimajor axis from the J2000 mean orbital elements
Reference level
Not applicable
Epoch
Not tied to a stated epoch
Resolution state
Settled

Provenance details

Uncertainty
Not stated
Alternatives
No competing admissible value
Value ID
venus:heliocentric_distance:heliocentric_orbital_semimajor_axis:nasa_nssdc_venus_fact_sheet_archive:0
Dataset version
0.1

Sources

  1. Venus Fact Sheet (2024-02-04 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterNASA NSSDC. Venus Fact Sheet. Archived 2024-02-04; retrieved 2026-09-02.Locator: Venus Mean Orbital Elements (J2000), Semimajor axis (AU): 0.72333199Retrieved 2026-09-02 · published Not statedTier B · us-government-work · reuse allowedThe live NSSDC host was unavailable during review, so Atlas cites a dated, immutable capture transparently. Each candidate locator transcribes the cited field's label, value, and unit.
Mercury0.3871 AUOne-way light time: 3.22 minutes0.387×Not applicableSettled
Source passportSettledNASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center

Source passport: Mercury

Published value
0.3871 AU
Primary source
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center
Definition
heliocentric orbital semimajor axis from the J2000 mean orbital elements
Reference level
Not applicable
Epoch
Not tied to a stated epoch
Resolution state
Settled

Provenance details

Uncertainty
Not stated
Alternatives
No competing admissible value
Value ID
mercury:heliocentric_distance:heliocentric_orbital_semimajor_axis:nasa_nssdc_mercury_fact_sheet_archive:0
Dataset version
0.1

Sources

  1. Mercury Fact Sheet (2024-02-04 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterNASA NSSDC. Mercury Fact Sheet. Archived 2024-02-04; retrieved 2026-09-02.Locator: Mercury Mean Orbital Elements (J2000), Semimajor axis (AU): 0.38709893Retrieved 2026-09-02 · published Not statedTier B · us-government-work · reuse allowedThe live NSSDC host was unavailable during review, so Atlas cites a dated, immutable capture transparently. Each candidate locator transcribes the cited field's label, value, and unit.

Why the result changes

Why this order?

An orbit's semimajor axis is its long-axis radius. It is a stable measure of orbit size, not today's Sun-world separation or a time-averaged distance.

1 AU is a defined unit, close to Earth's orbital semimajor axis. These values describe each orbit's size, not where a world sits today.

Outer order: Pluto, Neptune, Uranus.

Definition and evidence

What this comparison means.

Definitions

  • heliocentric orbital semimajor axis from the J2000 mean orbital elements

Moon, Europa, and Titan inherit their parent planetary system's heliocentric semimajor axis. This answers how far their system orbits from the Sun, not their position inside it.

Resolution states

Settled
Admissible values agree.
Derived
Calculated from published inputs.
Contested
Admissible values disagree.
Not established
No admissible value fits the definition.

Identity marks—not to scale

  • Mercury
  • Venus
  • Earth
  • Mars
  • Jupiter
  • Saturn
  • Uranus
  • Neptune
  • Moon
  • Titan
  • Europa
  • Pluto

Credit: Blue Marble, March 2014 — NASA/GSFC; Europa full disk, Galileo — NASA/JPL; Full Moon — NASA/GSFC; High-resolution Jupiter globe — NASA/JPL/University of Arizona; Mars global mosaic — NASA/USGS; Mercury globe — NASA/JHUAPL/Carnegie Institution of Washington; Neptune, Voyager 2 — NASA/JPL; Pluto color view — NASA/JHUAPL/SwRI; Saturn, Cassini — NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute; Titan natural-color composite, Cassini — NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute; Uranus, Voyager 2 — NASA/JPL-Caltech; Venus radar-data globe — NASA/JPL

Dataset 0.1 · source records retrieved 2026-08-30–2026-09-02 · canonical page /worlds/distance/

Sources used by this comparison

  1. Earth Fact Sheet (2024-11-16 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterTier B
  2. Planetary Fact Sheet Notes (2024-10-07 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center
  3. Jupiter Fact Sheet (2024-10-04 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterTier B
  4. Mars Fact Sheet (2024-09-15 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterTier B
  5. Mercury Fact Sheet (2024-02-04 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterTier B
  6. Neptune Fact Sheet (2024-10-06 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterTier B
  7. Pluto Fact Sheet (2024-02-04 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterTier B
  8. Saturn Fact Sheet (2024-10-04 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterTier B
  9. Uranus Fact Sheet (2024-10-07 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterTier B
  10. Venus Fact Sheet (2024-02-04 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterTier B

Keep and reuse

Link, cite, download, or present this comparison.

The link and citation track meaningful view settings. The CSV is one stable, reference-independent table with no reference-derived comparison column.

https://yalethom.as/worlds/distance/

Cite this view

Yale Thomas. Atlas of Worlds. “How far is each world from the Sun?” View: default. Dataset 0.1. https://yalethom.as/worlds/distance/. Accessed [the date you viewed this page].

Without JavaScript, Atlas leaves a bracketed instruction so you can supply the date you viewed the page.

Download the table

Includes stable body, role, definition, value, provenance, version, attribution, and license fields in display order.

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