FACTS ABOUT OUR EARTH

Earth is the third planet from the Sun. It is the largest of the terrestrial planets in the Solar System in diameter, mass and density. It is also referred to as the Earth, Planet Earth, the World, and Terra.  Home to millions of species, including humans, Earth is the only place in the universe where life is known to exist. Scientific evidence indicates that the planet formed 4.54 billion years ago, and life appeared on its surface within a billion years. Since then, Earth's biosphere has significantly altered the atmosphere and other abiotic conditions on the planet, enabling the proliferation of aerobic organisms as well as the formation of the ozone layer which, together with Earth's magnetic field, blocks harmful radiation, permitting life on land.

Adjective:- Terrestrial, Terrain, Telluric, Tellurian, Earthly

Age:- 4,550 million years

Mass:- 5.976 x 10 kg

Volume:- 1.083 x 10 litres

Mean Density:- 5.518 kg/lt

Total Surface Area:- 510 million sq.km

Land Area:- 29.2% of the total surface area

Water Area:- 70.8% of the total surface area

Equatorial Diameter:- 12,755 km

Polar Diameter:- 12,712 km

Escape Velocity:- 11.2 km/sec

Highest Land Point:- Mount Everest (8,852 m)

Lowest Land Point:- Dead Sea (396 m)

Greatest Ocean Depth:- Mariana Trench (11,033m)

Equatorial Circumference:- 40,076 km

Polar Circumference:- 40,024 km

Mean Surface Temperature:- 14C

Maximum distance from sun (Aphelion):- About 152 million km

Minimum distance from sun (Perihelion):- About 147 million km

Rotation Speed”- 23 hrs, 56 min & 40.91 sec

Revolution Speed:- 365 days, 5hrs & 45.51 sec

Dates when days & nights are equal:- Mar, 21 (Vernal Equinox); Sept. 23 (Autumnal Equinox)

Dates of longest days and shortest nights:- June 21 (Summer Solstice); Dec, 22 (Winter Solstice)