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Span (Cloth)


A span is an old unit of length based on the distance between the tip of the thumb and the tip of the little finger of a fully extended hand. Traditionally, it measures about 9 inches or 22.86 centimeters.


In the context of cloth and textiles, the span was used as a convenient, informal measure to estimate small lengths of fabric before standardized rulers became widespread. It was helpful for tailors and traders to quickly gauge lengths during measuring and cutting.


While the span is largely obsolete as a formal unit today, it reflects historical measurement practices tied closely to the human body, similar to the cubit or hand.


Summary:



  • 1 span β‰ˆ 9 inches (22.86 cm)



  • Based on the hand’s spread



  • Used historically in cloth measurement and tailoring



  • Now mostly of historical and cultural interest


Astronomical Unit (a.u.) of Length


The astronomical unit (a.u.) is a unit of length used primarily in astronomy to describe distances within our solar system. It is defined as the average distance between the Earth and the Sun.


Key facts:



  • 1 astronomical unit β‰ˆ 149,597,870.7 kilometers (about 93 million miles)



  • Used to measure distances between planets and other objects in the solar system



  • Provides a convenient scale for expressing space distances that are too large for kilometers but too small for light-years



The astronomical unit helps astronomers communicate and calculate orbits, planetary positions, and space missions with clarity and precision.




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