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Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbor life. This is enabled by Earth being an ocean world, the only one in the Solar System sustaining liquid surface water. Almost all of Earth's water is contained in its global ocean, covering 70.8% of Earth's crust.
The Greeks and Romans named most of the planets in the Solar System after particular gods, and we have kept those names in English. Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, all unknown in classical times, were named by the modern astronomers who discovered them, but still after Greek and Roman gods.
- Namesake. The name Earth is at least 1,000 years old. All of the planets, except for Earth, were named after Greek and Roman gods and goddesses. However, the name Earth is a Germanic word, which simply means “the ground.”
- Potential for Life. Earth has a very hospitable temperature and mix of chemicals that have made life abundant here. Most notably, Earth is unique in that most of our planet is covered in liquid water, since the temperature allows liquid water to exist for extended periods of time.
- Size and Distance. With an equatorial diameter of 7926 miles (12,760 kilometers), Earth is the biggest of the terrestrial planets and the fifth largest planet in our solar system.
- Orbit and Rotation. As Earth orbits the Sun, it completes one rotation every 23.9 hours. It takes 365.25 days to complete one trip around the Sun. That extra quarter of a day presents a challenge to our calendar system, which counts one year as 365 days.
This naming convention has persisted even when planets have been discovered later on in history – Uranus in 1781, Neptune in 1846 and poor little since-downgraded Pluto in 1930. The only exception to the rule, in fact, is the planet you’re reading this article on – our very own Earth.
Jul 31, 2023 · Astronomy. The Solar System. Who Named Planet Earth? By: Mark Mancini | Updated: Jul 31, 2023. Where did the name "Earth" come from? NASA. In roman mythology, Jupiter was a Roman gods, the mighty chief of the gods in ancient Rome's pre-Christian religion.
Oct 4, 2024 · The name “Earth” originates from the Middle English word “erthe,” which descends from the Old English word “eorþe.”. Both these words share a common Germanic root, meaning “ground” or “soil.”. It’s a fitting name for the planet that sustains us and provides a fertile environment for life to thrive.
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1 day ago · Earth’s name in English, the international language of astronomy, derives from Old English and Germanic words for ground and earth, and it is the only name for a planet of the solar system that does not come from Greco-Roman mythology.
