Too much tilt and large portions of the northern and southern hemispheres would experience long periods without sun. Too little tilt and seasonal changes would be insignificant and polar regions even more extreme. The tilt of Earth's axis controls the seasons and serves to distribute energy globally on an annual cycle. The Animated Virtual Planetarium ( This site may be offline.) Our celestial neighborhood is a good one, but what about our home planet itself? Solar System Calculators ( more info) These external factors are critical for creating a haven for life in the harsh environment of space. Sol itself is a stable, middle-aged star with no recent history or inclination to surprise it's planets with radical changes in energy output. Within our solar system, Earth is positioned at just the right location with respect to Sol (our sun) to enable water to exist in all three phases. Our solar system is located in a benign region of the Milky Way galaxy, such that Earth is not bombarded with excessive high energy radiation from stellar neighbors. Every ocean ever sailed, every mountain ever climbed, every life ever lived could be covered by the outstretched hand of the astronaut taking the picture. ![]() The only world known to support life, this fragile sphere hovers in the blackness of space in stark contrast to its lifeless moon beneath. ![]() This view of Earth as a blue marble, first seen by Apollo astronauts in 1968, captures the unique beauty of our home planet.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |