Characteristics of Planet Earth

Earth Facts Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets. It is sometimes referred to as the world, the Blue Planet. Earth is located in the “Habitable zone of the Solar System”. Age is approximately 4.54 billion years old. Approximately 150 million kilometers away from sun.

Period of rotation is approximately 23 hours 56 minutes and 4 seconds = 24 hours= 1 day. Rotation – is the spinning or turning of a planet on its axis. Earth rotates counter clockwise or from west to east. Period of revolution is approximately 365.26 days or 1 year. Revolution – is the movement of a planet on its orbit around the sun. Earth also revolves counter clockwise.

The closest point of earth to the sun called as perihelion The closest point of earth to the sun called as perihelion. During aphelion earth is approximately 147 million kilometers. The farthest point of earth to the sun is called as aphelion. During aphelion earth is approximately 152 million kilometers away from the sun.

The earth has four major spheres, the atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere. The shape of the Earth is Oblate-spheroid. The earth is tilted or inclined for 23.5 degrees. Earth has only one natural satellite, Moon or Luna. Moon is approximately 384, 405 kilometers away from earth. The moon revolves around earth for 28 days. As a result of the gravitational pull of moon to earth, tides usually occurs.

Earth’s atmosphere is composed of different kinds of gases. 78 Earth’s atmosphere is composed of different kinds of gases. 78.1 percent of earth’s atmosphere is Nitrogen gas(N2), 21.9 percent is Oxygen (O2) and the remaining 1 percent are traces of gases such as CO2, CO, Methane, Argon, Water vapor and other kinds of gases.

Ever wonder how long it takes to get to the moon? The time it takes to get to the moon depends on the speed of the spacecrafts. The Apollo 11 was launched July 16, 1969 from Kennedy Space Centre and landed on the moon on July 19th. It took a total of 3 days, 3 hours and 49 minutes to fly to the Moon and 3 days to return to Earth. Afterwards, on April 11, 1970, Apollo 13 was launched from the Kennedy Space Centre and landed on the Pacific Ocean after traveling around the Moon on April 17th. It took total of 5 days, 22 hours and 54 minutes to fly to the Moon and return back to Earth.

The shortest trip to the Moon took place in January 2006 by the NASA Pluto probe New Horizons. With the speed of 58,000 km/hr, it only took 8 hours and 35 minutes to get to the Moon from Earth. The longest trip took place in 2003 by the ESA SMART-1 lunar probe. It took 1 year and 6 weeks because it used ion engine which was very fuel efficient. However, these two missions did not return to Earth.