The Earth Heavens above!

from Eden Local June 2023 Issue 195

Join us from 3 o’clock on Friday 16th June!

Our home planet is 3rd in distance from the sun making it unique in its atmosphere, temperature and the conditions suitable for humans to survive in most places in the world.

We probably all take our existence, and the Earth itself, for granted. Most people are aware of the difficulties the earth and its population are facing in regard to climate change, pollution and human impact. But when viewed from space, and because over 71% of the earth surface is covered in water, it remains known as ‘The Blue Planet’ and as such is home to a staggering range of living organisms from the tiniest microbe to human beings. Life continues to survive and in many cases thrives despite the changes that are happening around us.

We all know that we are living on a planet in the Solar System. We know that the earth orbits the sun and it takes 365 days to do so (remembering leap years!). We know that the earth takes 24 hours to turn and we know we have one moon but there are a few other facts about this planet we call home…

Equivalent size: If we imagine the sun being the size of a giant pumpkin then Earth is the size of a cherry tomato.

Equator circumference: 40,075 km (24,901miles)

Radius/Diameter: 6,378km /12,774 km (3,963 miles/7,926 miles)

Distance from the Sun: 1,495,978,70 km (92,955,807 miles)

Temperature: minus 89.3°C to 56.7°C with an average temperature = 13.9° C

Made of: Formed about 4.54 billion years ago, our planet is made up of four main layers. The inner core is made largely of Iron (approx. 88%). Next is the outer core which is largely liquid and made of nickel, iron and molten rock. The mantle is the next layer; this is about 2,900 km thick (1,802 miles) and is the thickest layer of the earth. Made of hot and dense iron and magnesium rich rocks the combination of the high temperature and pressure, it is here where diamonds are created. The top layer is known as the crust and consists of solid rock, mainly basalt and granite with almost ¾ of the surface covered with water in one form or another.

The atmosphere is another aspect of our planet which makes it unique; without the combination of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and 1% of other gas- es then life as we know it could not survive. The layers of the atmosphere and the pressure they exert are vital in protecting the earth from harmful solar radiation and extreme temperatures and vitally maintain the life-giving water on the planet. The earth is sometimes described as being in a Goldilocks zone not too far from the sun but not too close either – so supporting life as we know it.

Other facts you may not know!

• The earth isn’t perfectly round! It bulges at the equator and flattens at the poles because of the rotation of the planet on its axis.

• Coral reefs are the largest living structures on earth.

• Australia is actually wider than the moon! The moon is 3,400 km in diameter while Australia measures 4000km from east to west!

• If the sun was hollow you could fit a million earths inside.

• The earth is actually rotating at around 1,000 mph – we don’t feel dizzy because gravity keeps us held on the earth’s surface so we don’t feel the movement.

• Earth is the only planet in our solar system not to be named after a Greek or Roman god. It gets its name from the Old English ‘Eor(th)e’ & ‘Ertha’ meaning ‘dirt, soil or country’ and from the German word ‘erde’ meaning ground. The name is at least 1000 years old.