Solar mass - Definition and Overview

In astronomy, the solar mass is a unit of mass used to express the mass of stars and larger objects such as galaxies. It is equal to the mass of the Sun, about two quintillion kilograms. Its value and conventional symbol are:

<math>M_\bigodot=1.9891\times10^{30}\hbox{ kg}<math>

The solar mass is 333,000 times the mass of the Earth.

Uncertainties over the gravitational constant make the calculation of the solar mass equally imprecise.

See also

• Gaussian gravitational constant
• Orders of magnitude (mass)