Terrestrial Planet · Our Home
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only known astronomical object to harbour life. Its liquid water, oxygen-rich atmosphere, and magnetic field create the perfect conditions for life. About 71% of its surface is covered by water - giving it the nickname "the Blue Marble".
Overview
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Atmosphere composition
Nitrogen
78.1%
Oxygen
20.9%
Argon
0.93%
Carbon Dioxide
0.04%
Other
0.03%
Notable features
- Only known planet with confirmed life
- Plate tectonics - active geological reshaping
- Large Moon - stabilises Earth's axial tilt
- Magnetosphere - shields surface from solar wind
- Liquid water oceans covering 71% of the surface
- Ozone layer protecting life from UV radiation
Space missions
| Mission | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sputnik 1 | 1957 | First artificial satellite to orbit Earth |
| Apollo 8 | 1968 | First crewed mission to leave Earth orbit |
| Landsat 1 | 1972-present | Continuous Earth observation from orbit |
| ISS | 1998-present | Permanent human presence in low Earth orbit |
| Sentinel | 2014-present | ESA Copernicus Earth observation constellation |
NASA images
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Images courtesy of NASA Image & Video Library.