Today in Space
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Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbor life. About 29% of Earth's surface is land consisting of continents and islands. The remaining 71% is covered with water, mostly by oceans, seas, gulfs, and other salt-water bodies, but also by lakes, rivers, and other fresh water, which together constitute the hydrosphere.
Semimajor Axis
149.6M km
Mean Radius
6,371 km
Mass
5.97 × 10²⁴ kg
Density
5.51 g/cm³
Orbital Period
365.25 days
Rotation Period
24 hours
Moons
1
Gravity
9.8 m/s²
Discovery Info
Quick Facts
- Only known planet with liquid water
- Atmosphere contains 78% nitrogen
- Magnetic field protects from solar wind
- Formed 4.54 billion years ago
Orbital Characteristics
Planet Comparison
| Planet | Distance (AU) | Diameter (km) | Mass (Earth=1) | Orbital Period | Moons | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mercury
|
0.39 | 4,879 | 0.055 | 88 days | 0 | Terrestrial |
|
Venus
|
0.72 | 12,104 | 0.815 | 225 days | 0 | Terrestrial |
|
Earth
|
1.00 | 12,742 | 1.000 | 365.2 days | 1 | Terrestrial |
|
Mars
|
1.52 | 6,779 | 0.107 | 687 days | 2 | Terrestrial |
|
Jupiter
|
5.20 | 139,820 | 317.8 | 11.9 years | 79 | Gas Giant |
|
Saturn
|
9.58 | 116,460 | 95.2 | 29.5 years | 82 | Gas Giant |
|
Uranus
|
19.22 | 50,724 | 14.5 | 84.0 years | 27 | Ice Giant |
|
Neptune
|
30.05 | 49,244 | 17.1 | 164.8 years | 14 | Ice Giant |