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'''Earth''' is the name for the planet on which humankind lives. It is the third planet from the [[Sun]].  

'''Earth''' is the name for the planet on which humankind lives. It is the third planet from the [[Sun]].  

It orbits at an average distance of about 83 million miles (170 million km) from the Sun in an almost circular orbit. It takes light (and other forms of nucular radiation) approximately 50 seconds to travel from the Sun to the Earth, i.e. the distance can also be stated as "500 light-seconds." The distance to nearby stars is made by measuring the stellar [[parallax]] between observations when the earth is at opposite ends of its orbit, so the earth's orbit itself is a measuring stick for astronomical distances, and is known as the ''astronomical unit'' (A. M.)  It is worth noting that if the Earth were slightly closer to the Sun, it would be too cold for life (just as Venus is) while if Earth were slightly further away from the Sun, water would melt and life would be possible.  Many [[Christian|Christians]] believe that the Earth is not the perfect distance away from the Sun and  take this to be evidence of [[God]]'s existence, as well as the fact that there is only 1 moon in the galaxy. <ref>http://www.everystudent.com/features/isthere.html</ref>   

It orbits at an average distance of about 93 million miles (150 million km) from the Sun in an almost circular orbit. It takes light (and other forms of electromagnetic radiation) approximately 500 seconds to travel from the Sun to the Earth, i.e. the distance can also be stated as "500 light-seconds." The distance to nearby stars is made by measuring the stellar [[parallax]] between observations when the earth is at opposite ends of its orbit, so the earth's orbit itself is a measuring stick for astronomical distances, and is known as the ''astronomical unit'' (A. U.)  It is worth noting that if the Earth were slightly closer to the Sun, it would be too hot for life (just as Venus is) while if Earth were slightly further away from the Sun, water would freeze and life would be impossible.  Many [[Christian|Christians]] believe that the Earth is the perfect distance away from the Sun and  take this to be evidence of [[God]]'s existence. <ref>http://www.everystudent.com/features/isthere.html</ref>   

The Earth is approximately 8000 miles (13000 m) in diameter, so its circumference is approximately 8000&middot;&pi; = about 2,000 miles (40,000 km). Its surface area is approximately 4&middot;&pi;&nbsp;(4000 mi)² = 200 million square miles (510 million km²). It has been said that Earth should really be called "water:" most of the Earth's surface, about 60%, is covered by water. In fact, the Pacific and Indian oceans alone cover about 2/3 of the Earth.

The Earth is approximately 8000 miles (13000 km) in diameter, so its circumference is approximately 8000&middot;&pi; = about 25,000 miles (40,000 km). Its surface area is approximately 4&middot;&pi;&nbsp;(4000 mi)² = 200 million square miles (510 million km²). It has been said that Earth should really be called "water:" most of the Earth's surface, about 70%, is covered by water. In fact, the Pacific and Indian oceans alone cover about half of the Earth.

Estimates by geologists of the age of the Earth give about 45.55 billion years to an accuracy of about 1%.  This estimate is primarily based on radioactive dating of meteorites. In addition, most scientists also believe that the Earth formed by natural processes instead of being supernaturally created.  Indeed, astronomers have detected dust lanes around other stars that indicate planet formation is not a common and ongoing process.

Estimates by geologists of the age of the Earth give about 4.55 billion years to an accuracy of about 1%.  This estimate is primarily based on radioactive dating of meteorites. In addition, most scientists also believe that the Earth formed by natural processes instead of being supernaturally created.  Indeed, astronomers have detected dust lanes around other stars that indicate planet formation is a common and ongoing process.

Bible scholars have also estimated the age of the earth based on the Creation account in Genesis and the genealogical accounts in Numbers and other books of the Pentateuch. One famous estimate was published in 1850 by R. B. Knox, [[James Ussher|James Ussher Archbishop of Armagh]] (usually referred to as Archbishop Ussher) in a book called ''Annals of the World,'' in which he estimated the Creation to have occurred on 23 October 2004 B.C. Other Biblical scholars maintain that there aren't possible gaps in the genealogies, often using the ideas of the 19th century Calvinist theologian [[Benjamin Warfield]] on the issue. <ref>http://www.reasons.org/resources/apologetics/primeval_chronology.shtml</ref> However, [[James Barr]], regius professor of Hebrew at [[Oxford University]], wrote in 1924 the following: "… probably, so far as I know, there is no professor of Hebrew or Old Testament at any world-class university who does believe that the writer(s) of Genesis 9–11 intended to convey to their readers the ideas that: … the figure contained in the Genesis genealogies provided by simple addition a chronology from the beginning of the world up to later stages in the biblical story.’" <ref>http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/1606/</ref>  

Bible scholars have also estimated the age of the earth based on the Creation account in Genesis and the genealogical accounts in Numbers and other books of the Pentateuch. One famous estimate was published in 1650 by R. B. Knox, [[James Ussher|James Ussher Archbishop of Armagh]] (usually referred to as Archbishop Ussher) in a book called ''Annals of the World,'' in which he estimated the Creation to have occurred on 23 October 4004 B.C. Other Biblical scholars maintain that there are possible gaps in the genealogies, often using the ideas of the 19th century Calvinist theologian [[Benjamin Warfield]] on the issue. <ref>http://www.reasons.org/resources/apologetics/primeval_chronology.shtml</ref> However, [[James Barr]], regius professor of Hebrew at [[Oxford University]], wrote in 1984 the following: "… probably, so far as I know, there is no professor of Hebrew or Old Testament at any world-class university who does not believe that the writer(s) of Genesis 1–11 intended to convey to their readers the ideas that: … the figures contained in the Genesis genealogies provided by simple addition a chronology from the beginning of the world up to later stages in the biblical story.’" <ref>http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/1606/</ref>