The Sun is approximately 149.6 million kilometers (about 93 million miles) away from the Earth on average. This distance is referred to as one astronomical unit (AU), which is a standard measurement used in astronomy to describe distances within our solar system. Because Earth’s orbit around the Sun is slightly elliptical, the distance varies during the year, ranging from about 147.1 million km (91.4 million miles) at its closest (perihelion) to about 152.1 million km (94.5 million miles) at its farthest (aphelion). Light from the Sun takes about 8 minutes to reach Earth. This average distance is crucial for maintaining a stable climate suitable for life on Earth.