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The Earth

The Earth is one of nine planets in the Solar System. The Sun is much too big to be included on this page.

Montage of the solar system © NASA

In order of distance from the Sun, the planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. The Sun is a star which is just one of many millions of stars which make up the Milky Way Galaxy.

The Moon and the Earth as seen from space © NASA

If the Earth needed an identity card, this is what it might look like:

The Earth from space © NASA

Name: The Earth.

Nickname: The Blue Planet.

Intergalactic address: 3rd planet from the Sun,
The Solar System,
Milky Way Galaxy, 
Local Cluster,
The Universe.

Age: 4600 million years old.

Formation: A ball of dense space dust.

Vital statistics: 12,750 km in diameter.

Next of kin: Venus and Mars.

Closest friend: The Moon.

Distinguishing features: The only planet with life. The only planet with water in liquid form.

Personality: Very dynamic, always on the move, turns around once a day and orbits the Sun every year. Warm-hearted. Mostly bright and sunny, full of life. Can sometimes be a bit moody with volcanic eruptions and the odd earthquake or storm. Sometimes a little cold at the edges.

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© Paul Billiet, Shirley Burchill, Alan Damon and Deborah James 2010

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