Earth
Earth, our home planet, is a beautiful blue and white ball when seen from space. The third planet from the Sun, it is the largest of the inner planets. Earth is the only planet known to support life and to have liquid water at the surface. Earth has a substantial atmosphere and magnetic field, both of which are critical for sustaining life on Earth. Earth is the innermost planet in the solar system with a natural satellite – our Moon. Explore our beautiful home planet – unique in our solar system - through the links in this section.
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When Nature Strikes - Earthquakes
When Nature Strikes - Volcanoes
When Nature Strikes: Tsunami Classroom Activity
When Nature Strikes: Wildfires - Why are they a challenge to stop?
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Explore Earth
Earth's Interior and Surface
Earth, the largest and densest rocky planet, was formed about 4.5 billion years ago. The Earth's ...Read more
Atmosphere
The atmosphere is a mixture of nitrogen (78%), oxygen (21%), and other gases (1%) that surrounds ...Read more
Magnetosphere
The Earth has a magnetic field with north and south poles. The magnetic field of the Earth ...Read more
Moon
The Earth's one natural satellite, the Moon, is more than one quarter the size of Earth itself ...Read more
Earth's Polar Regions
Do you wonder what Earth's Polar Regions are like? Where do polar bears live? Where do penguins ...Read more
Climate and Global Change
Warm near the equator and cold at the poles, our planet is able to support a variety of living ...Read more
Water (The Hydrosphere)
Water is found in many places on Earth including on the surface of the planet, within rocks ...Read more
Life and Ecology (The Biosphere)
What is life? Why is there life on Earth, but not on any other planets in the solar system ...Read more
Natural Hazards
The United Nations estimated that between 1994-2015, there were 6,873 natural disasters worldwide, ...Read moreMore about Earth
- Our Changing Planet
- Myth and Culture
- Research Expeditions
- Earth as a System
- Planetary Facts
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Global locations of visitors using this page right now
Historical Events
Full Earth and Space Science History Calendar (Members only)
Teacher Opportunities
Full Teacher Events Calendar (Educator Members only)
Did you know?
Do you know what causes the different phases of the Moon?Do you know how photosynthesis works?
Earth and Space Science Concept of the Day
Do you know what this word or phrase means?Creep
xCreep : Slow, more or less continuous movement occurring on faults due to ongoing tectonic deformation.
Click on the word to find out!
Research Highlights
Scientists Find Signs of “Snowball Earth” Amidst Early Animal Evolution
Geologists have found evidence that sea ice extended to the equator 716.5 million years ago, bringing new precision to a "snowball Earth" event long suspected to have taken place around that time. Funded...Read more
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Science Blogs
Real Climate: climate science from climate scientists
Windows to the Universe, a project of the National Earth Science Teachers Association, is sponsored in part is sponsored in part through grants from federal agencies (NASA and NOAA), and partnerships with affiliated organizations, including the American Geophysical Union, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Earth System Information Partnership, the American Meteorological Society, the National Center for Science Education, and TERC. The American Geophysical Union and the American Geosciences Institute are Windows to the Universe Founding Partners. NESTA welcomes new Institutional Affiliates in support of our ongoing programs, as well as collaborations on new projects. Contact NESTA for more information.
