Science > Astronomy and Space Exploration > The Solar System

Earth

Earth is not perfectly round; it bulges at the equator and is flatter at the poles. From space the planet looks blue with white swirls, created by water and clouds.

  • Size: Four planets in our solar system are larger and four are smaller than Earth
  • Diameter: 7,926.2 miles (12,756 km)
  • Surface: Earth is made up of water (70%), air, and solid ground. It appears to be the only planet with water
  • Atmosphere: Nitrogen (78%), oxygen (21%), other gases
  • Rotation of its axis: 23 hours, 56 minutes, 4 seconds
  • Rotation around the Sun: 365.2 days

  • Satellites: 1
  • Mean Distance from Sun: 92.9 million miles (149.6 million km)
  • Rings: 0


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