About the Earth

The earth orbits the sun between Venus and Mars. It has two major surface features: continents and the oceans. The earth's surface is nearly 71% water. The atmosphere contains 79% nitrogen, 20% oxygen, and 1% other gases. It has a magnetic field that doesn't line up with its rotation axis. This field protects us from particles and debris in space. The earth has one natural satellite, the moon. The earth's moon is the only planet or satellite that humans have landed on. The moon one side facing the earth at all times, and one side is not visible from earth. The side facing the earth is called the near side, and the side facing away is called the far side.

Click the picture to visit My Moon, a website with news and stories about the moon appropriate for grades 4 and up.