Earth facts for kids

Meet Earth

Earth is the third planet from the Sun, about 150 million kilometres away from it. It is the only place we know of where living things are found.

It is the biggest of the four rocky planets, and the fifth biggest planet of all. Earth is the only planet whose English name doesn't come from a Greek or Roman god.

Water and air

Ocean covers about 71 per cent of Earth's surface. The air is about 78 per cent nitrogen and 21 per cent oxygen.

Days, years and seasons

Earth spins round once in about 24 hours. As Earth spins, your side turns towards the Sun for day, then away from it for night.

It travels round the Sun once in about 365 and a quarter days. Most years have 365 days. A leap year adds one extra day to keep calendars in step.

Seasons come from Earth's tilt. Earth is actually closest to the Sun in early January.

One moon

Earth is the only planet in our Solar System with just one moon. Earth is the closest planet to the Sun with a moon of its own.

Earth in a nutshell

• Place from the Sun: third
• Kind of planet: rocky
• Size: the biggest of the rocky planets, about 12,750 kilometres across
• A day: about 24 hours
• A year: about 365 and a quarter days
• Moons: one, the Moon
• Distance from the Sun: about 150 million kilometres

Quick quiz: Earth

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