From the perspective we get on Earth, our planet appears to be big and sturdy with an endless ocean of air.

From space, astronauts often get the impression that the Earth is small with a thin, fragile layer of atmosphere. For a space traveler, the distinguishing Earth features are the blue waters, brown and green land masses and white clouds set against a black background. Many dream of traveling in space and viewing the wonders of the universe. In reality all of us are space travelers. Our spaceship is the planet Earth, traveling at the speed of 1 !, kilometers "#$, miles% an hour. Earth is the &rd planet from the 'un at a distance of about 1( million kilometers ")&.* million miles%. It takes &#(.*(# days for the Earth to travel around the 'un and *&.)&+( hours for the Earth rotate a complete revolution. It has a diameter of 1*,$(# kilometers "$,)$& miles%, only a few hundred kilometers larger than that of ,enus. Our atmosphere is composed of $! percent nitrogen, *1 percent o-ygen and 1 percent other constituents. Earth is the only planet in the solar system known to harbor life. Our planet.s rapid spin and molten nickel/iron core give rise to an e-tensive magnetic field, which, along with the atmosphere, shields us from nearly all of the harmful radiation coming from the 'un and other stars. Earth.s atmosphere protects us from meteors, most of which burn up before they can strike the surface. From our 0ourneys into space, we have learned much about our home planet. 1he first 2merican satellite, E-plorer 1, discovered an intense radiation 3one, now called the ,an 2llen radiation belts. 1his layer is formed from rapidly moving charged particles that are trapped by the Earth.s magnetic field in a doughnut/shaped region surrounding the e4uator. Other findings from satellites show that our planet.s magnetic field is distorted into a tear/drop shape by the solar wind. 5e also now know that our wispy upper atmosphere, once believed calm and uneventful, seethes with activity // swelling by day and contracting by night. 2ffected by changes in solar activity, the upper atmosphere contributes to weather and climate on Earth. 6esides affecting Earth.s weather, solar activity gives rise to a dramatic visual phenomenon in our atmosphere. 5hen charged particles from the solar wind become trapped in Earth.s magnetic field, they collide with air molecules above our planet.s magnetic poles. 1hese air molecules then begin to glow and are known as the auroras or the northern and southern lights.

Earth Statistics Mass (kg) Mass (Earth = 1) Equatorial radius (km) Equatorial radius (Earth = 1) Mean density (gm/cm^3) 5.976e+24 1.0000e+00 6,378.14 1.0000e+00 5.515

Mean distance from the Sun (km) 149,600,000 Mean distance from the Sun (Earth = 1) 1.0000 Rotational eriod (days) 0.99727 Rotational eriod (hours) 23.9345 !r"ital eriod (days) 365.256 Mean or"ital #elocity (km/sec) 29.79 !r"ital eccentricity 0.0167 $ilt of a%is (degrees) 23.45 !r"ital inclination (degrees) 0.000 Equatorial esca e #elocity (km/sec) 11.18 Equatorial surface gra#ity (m/sec^&) 9.78 'isual geometric al"edo 0.37 Mean surface tem erature 15C (tmos heric ressure ("ars) 1.013 (tmos heric com osition )itrogen 77% !%ygen 21% !ther 2% (nimations of Earth

7otation Earth Movie. Earth.s 8ights at 9ight. Earth 1opography 2nimation. 2urora ,ideo. Earth:,enus 7otation Movie. ;alileo Earth Encounter. Earth: The Movie / 2nimation of <louds = Flight. Earth: The Movie / 2nimation of <louds.

'ie*s of Earth
1he following set of images show some of the wonders of our planet, the Earth.

+lue Mar"le ,est 1his spectacular >blue marble> image is the most detailed true/color image of the entire Earth to date. ?sing a collection of satellite/based observations, scientists and visuali3ers stitched together months of observations of the land surface, oceans, sea ice, and clouds into a seamless, true/color mosaic of every s4uare kilometer ".&!# s4uare mile% of our planet. (Courtesy NASA/MODIS/USGS)

+lue Mar"le East 1his spectacular >blue marble> image is the most detailed true/color image of the entire Earth to date. ?sing a collection of satellite/based observations, scientists and visuali3ers stitched together months of observations of the land surface, oceans, sea ice, and clouds into a seamless, true/color mosaic of every s4uare kilometer ".&!# s4uare mile% of our planet. (Courtesy NASA/MODIS/USGS) Earth -ights of )orth and South (merica 1his image of 9orth and 'outh 2merica city lights was created with data from the @efense Meteorological 'atellite Arogram "@M'A% Operational 8inescan 'ystem "O8'%. Originally designed to view clouds by moonlight, the O8' is also used to map the locations of permanent lights on the Earth.s surface.