A Sense of Scale

A Visual Comparison of Various Distances

Thanks to Tim Talbert for providing some of the data.

1.616x10-35 m

1.616x10-35 m

the Planck length (the smallest measurement of length that has meaning)

1x10-15 m	1x10-15 m	one fermi
1.66 fm	1.66x10-15 m	diameter of proton
2.2 fm	2.2x10-15 m	classical diameter of neutron
3.8 fm	3.8x10-15 m	diameter of the nucleus of a helium atom
5.635881 fm	5.635881x10-15 m	classical diameter of an electron
7.2 fm	7.2x10-15 m	diameter of the nucleus of an aluminum atom
14 fm	1.4x10-14 m	diameter of the nucleus of a gold atom

14 fm	1.4x10-14 m	diameter of the nucleus of a gold atom
1,000 fm	1x10-12 m	one picometer
1 pm	1x10-12 m	wavelength of gamma rays

1 pm	1x10-12 m	wavelength of gamma rays
38 pm	3.8x10-11 m	diameter of flourine ion
52.9 pm	5.29x10-11 m	most likely distance from electron to nucleus in a hydrogen atom (bohr radius)
74.13 pm	7.413x10-11 m	distance between bonded hydrogen atoms
100 pm	1x10-10 m	one angstrom
120 pm	1.2x10-10 m	Van Der Waals radius of hydrogen atoms (max distance between atoms that are not bonded)
200 pm	2x10-10 m	resolution (size of smallest visible object) of a transmission electron microscope
248.2 pm	2.482x10-10 m	distance between bonded iron atoms
275 pm	2.75x10-10 m	Van Der Waals radius of potassium atoms (max distance between atoms that are not bonded)
300 pm	3x10-10 m	diameter of water molecule
340 pm	3.4x10-10 m	distance between base pairs in a DNA molecule
380 pm	3.8x10-10 m	diameter of xenon ion
530.9 pm	5.309x10-10 m	distance between bonded cesium atoms

530.9 pm	5.309x10-10 m	distance between bonded cesium atoms
1,000 pm	1x10-9 m	one nanometer
1.5 nm	1.5x10-9 m	size of glucose molecule
2 nm	2x10-9 m	diameter of DNA helix
5 nm	5x10-9 m	diameter of insulin molecule
6 nm	6x10-9 m	diameter of a hemoglobin molecule
10 nm	1x10-8 m	thickness of cell wall (gram negative bacteria)
75 nm	7.5x10-8 m	size of typical virus
125 nm	1.25x10-7 m	thickness of gold leaf
200 nm	2x10-7 m	diameter of smallest bacteria
200 nm	2x10-7 m	resolution (size of smallest visible object) of an optical microscope
260 nm	2.6x10-7 m	length of the smallest transistor in a Pentium 3 chip

260 nm	2.6x10-7 m	length of the smallest transistor in a Pentium 3 chip
410 nm	4.1x10-7 m	wavelength of violet light
680 nm	6.8x10-7 m	wavelength of red light
1,000 nm	1x10-6 m	one micrometer (micron)
1 µm	1x10-6 m	size of typical bacterium
1 µm	1x10-6 m	diameter of sperm cell
1.7 µm	1.7x10-6 m	diameter of average human cell nucleus
2.4 µm	2.4x10-6 m	thickness of red blood cell
3 µm	3x10-6 m	length of the smallest transistor in an Intel 286 chip
4 µm	4x10-6 m	diameter of capillary
6 µm	6x10-6 m	length of the smallest transistor in an Intel 8086 chip
7 µm	7x10-6 m	diameter of a single yeast organism
8.4 µm	8.4x10-6 m	diameter of red blood cell
10 µm	1x10-5 m	diameter of average cell in human body
10 µm	1x10-5 m	size of a grain of talcum powder
16 µm	1.6x10-5 m	length of the smallest transistor in the first 6502 chips

16 µm	1.6x10-5 m	length of the smallest transistor in the first 6502 chips
20 µm	2x10-5 m	length of the smallest transistor in an Intel 4004 (the first microprocessor)
20 µm	2.0x10-5 m	diameter of a small grain of sand
25 µm	2.5x10-5 m	length of sperm cell
25 µm	2.5x10-5 m	diameter of a human hair
83.82 µm	8.382x10-5 m	typical thickness of a piece of paper
100 µm	1x10-4 m	mimimum size of object the human eye can resolve unaided
100 µm	1x10-4 m	diameter of human fertilized egg cell
100 µm	1x10-4 m	size of a grain of salt
110 µm	1.1x10-4 m	thickness of a dollar bill
300 µm	3x10-4 m	diameter of a period on a typewriter
375 µm	3.7x10-4 m	diameter of the most common type of optical fiber
750 µm	7.5x10-4 m	size of largest known bacterium
1,000 µm	1x10-3 m	one millimeter
1.7 mm	1.7x10-3 m	diameter of the head of the average pin
2 mm	2x10-3 m	diameter of a large grain of sand

2 mm	2x10-3 m	diameter of a large grain of sand
2 mm	2x10-3 m	size of a small ant
4.234 mm	4.234x10-3 m	height of a line of text in 12-point type
10 mm	1x10-2 m	one centimeter
1.7 cm	1.7x10-2 m	wavelength of 20khz note (highest that can be heard) at 27 degrees celsius
2.5 cm	2.5x10-2 m	size of a large ant
2.54 cm	2.540x10-2 m	one inch
8.5 cm	8.5x10-2 m	length of largest human chromosome if it were stretched end-to-end
12.2 cm	1.22x10-1 m	wavelength of microwaves in a microwave oven
30 cm	3.0x10-1 m	one foot
79 cm	7.9x10-1 m	wavelength of 440 hertz note (A above middle C) at 27 degrees celsius
91 cm	9.1x10-1 m	one yard
1 m	1 m	one meter

1 m	1 m	one meter
3 m	3 m	average wavelength of FM radio waves
17 m	1.7x101 m	wavelength of 20 hertz note (lowest that can be heard) at 27 degrees celsius
299.7925 m	2.997925x102 m	distance light travels in one microsecond, in a vacuum
343 m	3.43x102 m	distance sound travels in one second (at 20 degress celsius)
415 m	4.1x102 m	distance a bullet travels per second, when fired from a .22

415 m	4.1x102 m	distance a bullet travels per second, when fired from a .22
1,000 m	1x103 m	one kilometer
1.609344 km	1.609344x103 m	one mile
4.3 km	4.3x103 m	thickness of Greenland ice cap, at thickest point
4.47 km	4.47x103 m	greatest measured thickness of antarctic ice cap
8.85 km	8.85x103 m	height of Mount Everest
10.294 km	1.0294x104 m	depth of Marianas Trench
11 km	1.1x104 m	average height of top of troposphere (layer of atmosphere affected by weather)
29.78 km	2.978x104 m	distance the earth travels per second in its orbit
48 km	4.8x104 m	average height of top of stratosphere (layer of atmosphere containing ozone; free of weather, good for flying)
50 km	5x104 m	depth of earth's crust
60 km	6x104 m	thickness of ozone layer
80 km	8x104 m	height of ionosphere (ionized region which reflects radio waves)
80 km	8x104 m	average height of top of mesosphere (strong currents, unstable, bad for flying)
160 km	1x105 m	100 miles
299.7925 km	2.997925x105 m	distance light travels in one millisecond, in a vacuum

299.7925 km	2.997925x105 m	distance light travels in one millisecond, in a vacuum
300 km	3x105 m	height of space shuttle's typical orbit
354 km	3.54x105 m	average altitude of International Space Station
640 km	6.4x105 m	height of lowest point of inner Van Allen belt
792 km	7.92x105 m	altitude of Iridium satellites (LEO)
825 km	8.25x105 m	altitude of Orbcomm satellites (LEO)
914 km	9.14x105 m	diameter of the asteroid Ceres
1,000 km	1x106 m	thickness of earth's atmosphere
1,375 km	1.375x106 m	height of Teledesic (low-earth orbit) satellites
1,414 km	1.414x106 m	altitude of Globalstar satellites (LEO)
2,274 km	2.274x106 m	diameter of Pluto at its equator
2,890 km	2.89x106 m	depth of earth's outer (liquid) core
3,474.8 km	3.4748x106 m	diameter of moon
3,962 km	3.962x106 m	distance from New York to Los Angeles
4,879.4 km	4.8794x106 m	diameter of Mercury at its equator
5,150 km	5.150x106 m	diameter of Titan

5,150 km	5.150x106 m	diameter of Titan
5,150 km	5.15x106 m	depth of earth's inner (solid) core
5,200 km	5.2x106 m	height of highest point of outer Van Allen belt
5,262 km	5.262x106 m	diameter of Ganymede
5,613 km	5.613x106 m	distance from New York to London
6,378.14 km	6.37814x106 m	distance to center of Earth
6,794.4 km	6.7944x106 m	diameter of Mars at its equator
9,084 km	9.084x106 m	distance from London to Los Angeles
9,380 km	9.38x106 m	mean distance from Phobos to Mars
10,390 km	1.039x107 m	altitude of ICO satellites (MEO)
12,103 km	1.2103x107 m	diameter of Venus at its equator
12,756.2 km	1.27562x107 m	diameter of Earth at its equator
20,200 km	2.02x107 m	altitude of GPS satellites
23,460 km	2.346x107 m	mean distance from Deimos to Mars
35,800 km	3.58x107 m	height of satellite in geostationary orbit
47,810 km	4.781x107 m	min initial altitude of Geotail satellite (VHO)

47,810 km	4.781x107 m	min initial altitude of Geotail satellite (VHO)
49,492 km	4.9492x107 m	diameter of Neptune at its equator
51,118 km	5.1118x107 m	diameter of Uranus at its equator
120,536 km	1.2053x108 m	diameter of Saturn at its equator
142,984 km	1.4298x108 m	diameter of Jupiter at its equator
299,792.5 km	2.997925x108 m	distance light travels in one second, in a vacuum
384,400 km	3.844x108 m	mean distance from earth to moon
868,912 km	8.68912x108 m	max initial altitude of Geotail satellite (VHO)
1,070,000 km	1.07x109 m	mean distance from Jupiter to Ganymede
1,221,850 km	1.22185x109 m	mean distance from Saturn to Titan
1,390,000 km	1.39x109 m	diameter of sun at its equator
1,500,000 km	1.5x109 m	distance to SOHO satellite (L1 Lagrange point)

1,500,000 km	1.5x109 m	distance to SOHO satellite (L1 Lagrange point)
17,987,550 km	1.798755x1010 m	distance light travels in one minute, in a vacuum
57,910,000 km	5.791x1010 m	mean distance of Mercury from the sun
108,200,000 km	1.082x1011 m	mean distance of Venus from the sun
1 AU	1x1011 m	mean distance of Earth from the sun (one astronomical unit)
1.5236 AU	2.2794x1011 m	mean distance of Mars from the sun
2.766 AU	4.139x1011 m	mean distance of the asteroid Ceres from the sun
5.2028 AU	7.7833x1011 m	mean distance of Jupiter from the sun
7.2143607 AU	1.079253x1012 m	distance light travels in one hour, in a vacuum

7.2143607 AU	1.079253x1012 m	distance light travels in one hour, in a vacuum
9.5549 AU	1.4294x1012 m	mean distance of Saturn from the sun
19.1913 AU	2.87099x1012 m	mean distance of Uranus from the sun
30.109 AU	4.5043x1012 m	mean distance of Neptune from the sun
34 AU	5.2x1012 m	maximum distance of Halley's Comet from the sun
39.5294 AU	5.91352x1012 m	mean distance of Pluto from the sun
43.8 AU	6.56x1012 m	distance of QB1 object from Sun
62.32 AU	9.323x1012 m	current distance of Voyager 2 from sun (as of 10/27/00)
79.125 AU	1.1837x1013 m	current distance of Voyager 1 from sun (as of 10/27/00)
80 AU	1x1013 m	termination shock--point at which solar wind becomes subsonic
134 AU	2.0x1013 m	heliopause (outer edge of Sun's magnetic field)
134 AU	2.01x1013 m	distance of 1996 TL66 object from Sun
173.14464 AU	2.590207x1013 m	distance light travels in one day, in a vacuum
372 AU	5.56x1013 m	maximum distance of comet Hale-Bopp from the sun
1,212.0125 AU	1.813145x1014 m	distance light travels in one week, in a vacuum

1,212.0125 AU	1.813145x1014 m	distance light travels in one week, in a vacuum
25,000 AU	3.7x1015 m	possible distance of Sol B from Sun
63,239.737 AU	9.460530x1015 m	distance light travels in one year (one light-year)
1.5 ly	1.4x1016 m	possible edge of Oort cloud
3.26 ly	3.08x1016 m	one parsec
4.22 ly	3.99x1016 m	distance to the star Proxima Centauri (nearest star other than sun)
4.3 ly	4.1x1016 m	distance to the stars Alpha Centauri A and B
8.6 ly	8.1x1016 m	distance to the star Sirius

8.6 ly	8.1x1016 m	distance to the star Sirius
25.2 ly	2.39x1017 m	distance to the star Vega
33 ly	3.2x1017 m	distance to the star Pollux
36 ly	3.5x1017 m	distance to the star Arcturus
51 ly	4.9x1017 m	distance to the star Castor
77 ly	7.3x1017 m	distance to the star Regulus
300 ly	2x1018 m	thickness of Milky Way Galaxy
430 ly	4.0x1018 m	distance to the star Polaris
1.6 kly	1.5x1019 m	distance to Horsehead Nebula

1.6 kly	1.5x1019 m	distance to Horsehead Nebula
20 kly	1x1020 m	diameter of Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy
27 kly	2.6x1020 m	distance to center of Milky Way Galaxy
44 kly	4.2x1020 m	diameter of M33 galaxy
162 kly	1.54x1021 m	diameter of Milky Way Galaxy
200 kly	1x1021 m	distance to Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy
200 kly	1x1021 m	diameter of M31 galaxy
300 kly	2x1021 m	distance to Small Magellanic Cloud galaxy

300 kly	2x1021 m	distance to Small Magellanic Cloud galaxy
2,200 kly	2.0x1022 m	distance to Andromeda galaxy
3,000 kly	2x1022 m	distance to Pisces galaxy
4,000 kly	3x1022 m	distance to IC 10 galaxy
5,000 kly	4x1022 m	distance to Pegasus galaxy
11,000 kly	1.0x1023 m	distance to the M81 galaxy cluster
15,000 kly	1.4x1023 m	distance to the M83 galaxy
27,000 kly	2.5x1023 m	distance to the M101 galaxy
35,000 kly	3.3x1023 m	distance to the M66 galaxy cluster
37,000 kly	3.5x1023 m	distance to the M51 galaxy cluster
38,000 kly	3.5x1023 m	distance to the M95 galaxy
41,000 kly	3.8x1023 m	distance to the M96 galaxy
60,000 kly	5x1023 m	distance to the Virgo galaxy cluster

60,000 kly	5x1023 m	distance to the Virgo galaxy cluster
340,000 kly	3.2x1024 m	distance to the Coma galaxy cluster
2,000,000 kly	1x1025 m	distance to brightest quasar (3C 273)
4,000,000 kly	3x1025 m	distance to quasar 3C 48
26,000,000 kly	2.4x1026 m	distance to farthest known object (quasar SDSS_1044_0125)

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