Earth



For alternate uses see: Earth (disambiguation).
Earth

Click image for description
Physical characteristics
Equatorial radius 6,378.14 km
Polar radius 6,356.78 km
Mean radius 6,371.3 km
Equatorial circumference 40,075 km
Volume 1.0832×1012 km³
Mass 5.9737×1024 kg
Density 5.515 g/cm³
Surface area 510,065,700 km²
Equatorial surface gravity 9.766 m/s², or 1 gee
Escape velocity 11,180 m/s
Sidereal rotation period 23.934 hours
Equatorial inclination to orbit 23.45°
Surface temperature
min mean max
185 K 287 K; 331 K
Surface Pressure 1 bar
Orbital characteristics
Average distance from the Sun 149,597,890 km (1.000 A.U)
Perihelion (closest) 147,100,000 km
Aphelion (farthest) 152,100,000 km
Sidereal orbit period 365.25636 days (1.0000174 Julian years)
Mean Orbit Velocity 29,785.9 m/s
Orbital eccentricity 0.01671022
Orbital inclination to Ecliptic 0.00005°
Orbital circumference 924,375,700 km
Satellitess 1 (the Moon), but see also 3753 Cruithne
Satellite of Sun
Atmospheric constituents
nitrogen 77%
oxygen 21%
argon 1%
carbon dioxide
water vapor
trace

Earth, also known as the Earth and Terra, is the planet on which humans live, the third planet outward from the Sun. It is the largest of the solar system's terrestrial planets, and the only planetary body that modern science can confirm as harbouring life. The planet has a single natural satellite, the Moon, and formed around 4.5 billion years ago.