Earth (Mythology)

Mother Earth: The origin of all life that we know



Earth

Seen from the moon as a fragile blue gem
so perfect with life
so precious to men
who lust for your treasures
pollutes your wind
like addicted rapists
drugged and freaked out
shooting for change.

carlyle miller



EARTH

The Earth is a PLANET, a celestial body that revolves around a
central star.  It is one of the nine known planets revolving
around its star, called the Sun (see EARTH, MOTIONS OF), along
with a multitude of smaller objects.  The system as a whole is
known as the SOLAR SYSTEM.
 
Among the planets, the Earth is third in order of increasing
distance from the Sun.  The Earth-Sun distance, about
149,600,000 km (92,956,000 mi) on the average, is used as a
unit of measure by astronomers and is known as the ASTRONOMICAL 
UNIT.  Like all celestial objects, the Earth has a
gravitational field (see EARTH, GRAVITATIONAL FIELD OF), and
like most other planets it also displays a magnetic field (see
EARTH, GEOMAGNETIC FIELD OF).

The Earth is accompanied by an orbiting companion, the MOON,
than is smaller than the Earth but is large enough for many
astronomers to consider the Earth and Moon as a double-planet
system.  The Earth's own diameter at its equator is about
12,800 km (7,900 mi;  see EARTH, SIZE AND SHAPE OF).  This
makes it only fifth in order of size among the planets.  It is
the largest of the inner planets, however, which all resemble
each other to some degree in structure and composition (see
EARTH, STRUCTURE AND COMPOSITION OF).  By studying the
materials of which the Earth is made, scientists have been able 
to trace its history through GEOLOGIC TIME (see also EARTH,
GEOLOGICAL HISTORY OF).  The many fields of scientific pursuit
that make up such studies are known collectively as the EARTH
SCIENCES.

Seen from space, planet Earth appears as a blue ocean sphere
that is marked by areas of brown and green, the continents, and 
white areas of ice at the poles.  Flecks and changing masses of 
clouds drift across this visible surface of sea, land, and ice. 
The earth is an object of great beauty.  Of all the planets and 
other objects in the universe, it is also the only place known
that harbors LIFE.  Scientists are seeking signs of life
elsewhere in the universe (see LIFE, EXTRATERRESTRIAL), but it
seems likely that our planet will remain the only place where
human beings or any other of Earth's organisms can live without 
artificial support for any foreseeable future.
 
Growing concern has been expressed by many scientists, however, 
for the continuing safety of the planet as a home for life (see  
POLLUTION, ENVIRONMENTAL).  The Earth and its organisms as a
whole form a BIOSPHERE that is threatened increasingly by human 
activities, and it is to this problem that such scientists and
other workers are now addressing their efforts.

General Astronomy The Galaxy Space Exploration Gravity
Magnetism Meteors Novas! Black Holes!!! Comets Asteroids The Sun & Planets
Solar System & The Sun Mercury Venus Earth
Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto

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