Earth Facts
EARTH FACTS
The home of interesting Earth facts for kids and adults.
The Planet Earth Factfile
| Earth | |
|---|---|
| Position from the Sun | 3 |
| Diameter | 12,714 km |
| How many moons? | 1 |
| How far long is the orbit distance? | 149,598,262 km |
| How long does it take to orbit the sun? | 365.24 Days |
| Whats the temperature on Earth? | -88 to 58°C |
10 Facts about Earth you didn't know.
1. Earth is the only planet not named after a Roman or Greek god.
Did you know?
For at least the last 1000 years, some cultures have been using the Germanic word "Earth" to describe our planet. It translates simply as "the ground".
2. Earth is the densest planet in the solar system
Earth is the densest planet in the solar system followed by the other terrestrial planets Mercury, Venus then Mars. All gas planets are at least 3 times less dense than Earth.
Did you know?
In 2004, a "super earth" was discovered and later named 55 Cancri E or Janssen. This Exoplanet's average density is 5.7–7.2 g/cm3 making it more dense than Earth. Astronomers are not sure whether the planet has a planet-wide ocean or diamond-like interior. Much more investigation has to be done to solve this mystery.
3. Nearly 70% of the Earth's surface is covered in water.
Nearly 70% of Earth's surface is covered by water. This water houses 97% of Earth's volcano's and is on average 2.5 miles deep.
Did you know?
Earth is the only planet in the solar system with liquid water on the surface. There is however, evidence of ice on other planets and moons.
4. Earth is the largest of the terrestrial planets.
Earth is the most largest of the terrestrial planets in both diameter and mass.
Did you know?
Only two of the Terrestrial planets have moons and a magnetic field.
5. Earth was once believed to be the centre of the universe.
Known as the geocentric model, past astronomers such as Ptolemy of Alexandria 2nd Century believed that all objects in the solar system orbited the sun. It wasn't until the 16th Century when Nicolaus Copernicus suggested a Heliocentric system where the sun was the centre of the solar system or universe.
Did you know?
At the time of Galileo Galilei, The Catholic Church was very powerful and strongly supported the geocentric model that the Earth was the centre of the universe. When Galileo supported evidence of a helicentric model, he was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1633. Because of his age and poor health he was allowed to serve his sentence under house arrest. On January 8th 1642 he died still serving his sentence.
6. Earths rotation is gradually slowing.
The Earth's moon tidal effects on Earth is very gradually slowing the rotation of the planet. At present the Earth rotates approximately once every 24 hours, or 23 hours, 56 minutes and 4 seconds to be exact. A day was shorter in the past.
Did you know?
Studies of Atomic clocks has shown that the modern Earth day is 1.7 milliseconds longer than it was 1000 years ago. Historical data from the 8th Century BCE has shown that the length of the day has increased by 2.3
7. Earth is tilted on its axis by 23.4 degrees.
The Earth is tilted on its axis by 23.4 degrees, this tilt is reason why it experiences seasonality. Our seasons are split into 4 equal segments of the year, spring, summer, autumn and winter spanning three months long.
Other planets also experience seasons. Uranus has the most extreme seasons. During its winter, parts of the planet receive no sunlight. Uranus distance from the Sun, the winters last nearly 21 Earth years.
Did you know?
Only two times per year are the northern hemisphere (above the equator and southern hemisphere (below the equator) both lit equally. These days are called Equinoxes. The dates change each year.
8. Earth is not a perfect sphere.
Earth is nearly spherical. In fact, depending on how you measure it is either classed as an oblate spheriod or a geoid.
Did you know?
The equatorial diameter of Earth is 43 kilometers larger than the pole to pole diameter.
9. Earth once had two moons.
In 2011, scientists claimed that Earth's gravitational pull was once host to two moons. The second moon, much smaller than Earth moon at approximately 1,200 km across its diameter, collided with Earth moon. This left Earth moon with uneven sides.
Did you know?
Some scientists claim that the Earth currently has two moons. Although these aren't always the same moon. The scientists suggest that Earth's gravitational pull captures asteroids and these become temporary moons lasting approximately 9 months in Earth's orbit.
10. The poles on Earth switch.
Over the past 20 million years, The poles on planet Earth has set into a pattern of pole reversal. This pole reversal happens around every 200,000 to 300,000 years.
This switch does not happen overnight, it takes between hundreds and thousands of years to complete the reversal as the magnetic poles move away from the axis.
Did you know?
As of 2020, It has been more than twice that long since a pole reversal so we are due one soon. At some point in the future, your compass will point you North to Antarctica and South to the Arctic.