The Pale Blue Dot
Earth
The only known world with liquid-water oceans, plate tectonics, and life. From its protective magnetic field to its oxygen-rich atmosphere, Earth is a remarkably rare oasis in the void.
Size compared to Earth1× Earth's diameter
Full bar = Jupiter, the largest planet
Vital statistics
- Diameter
- 12,756 km
- Distance from Sun
- 149.6 million km
- Orbital period
- 365.25 Earth days
- Day length
- 24 hours
- Moons
- 1
- Mean temperature
- 15°C
Notable facts
Oceans cover about 71% of the surface, yet all that water is less than 0.02% of the planet's mass.
Earth is the densest planet in the solar system, thanks to its large iron core.
The Moon is slowly drifting away from Earth at about 3.8 centimeters per year.
Earth's rotation is gradually slowing — days were only about 18 hours long, 1.4 billion years ago.
Next stop
Mars