Position - third from the sun

Distance from sun - (nearest) 147 million km (furthest) 152 million km (average) 150 million km

Diameter - 12,800 km

Satellites - The Moon (diameter 3500 km)

Atmosphere - mainly Nitrogen and Oxygen

Surface Temperature - from -89 ^oC to 58 ^oC

Length of Day (time taken to rotate once) - 1 Earth day

Length of Year (time taken to go round the Sun) - 365 Earth days

Comments - Earth is the only planet with liquid water and life. Originally the atmosphere contained a lot more carbon dioxide but plants released oxygen into the atmosphere. The Moon is very big compared to the size of the Earth and some people think it is really another planet which has been captured by the earth's gravity.

Major Features - Two thirds of the surface of the planet is water. Clouds obscure much of the surface as seen from space.

Seeing Earth from Space - The first person to see Earth from space was the Russian Yuri Gargarin. The first people to see Earth from another place were Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin who saw the Earth from the Moon

Getting There - You're already there!