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[[image:Earthandmoon2.jpg|right|300px]]

[[image:Earthandmoon2.jpg|right|300px]]

'''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 center of the universe and all other planets rotate around the Earth.

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>   

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>