Earth Day

The picture above is titled the 'Pale Blue Dot'. It was taken by the Voyager 1 space probe in 1990 from a distance of over 4 billion miles. The space craft was at the edge of the Solar System when Ground Control commanded it to turn back and take pictures of the planets it had visited. Captured in the light ray that cuts through the right side of the picture you will notice a tiny dot: Earth. (Provided you keep your computer screen nice and tidy:-) Both the idea for taking the distant photo and the title came from scientist and astronomer Carl Sagan. You can read his thoughts about the photo here and you can also see the version of the picture with Earth marked on it with arrows.

Why am I writing about all this now? Because this Wednesday is Earth Day. This is observed each year on April 22 and it is primarily designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment. So, let's celebrate this special day with a quiz.(Not entirely on environmental facts, but about or planet, nevertheless.)

1. Which is true about our planet's distance from the Sun?

a, It's the second from the Sun.
b, It's the third from the Sun.
c, It's the fourth from the Sun.


2. How old is our Earth?

a, 5 million years old.
b, 12 million years old.
c, 4.5 billion years old.

3. Which is the largest ocean?

a, Pacific Ocean.
b, Atlantic Ocean.
c, Indian Ocean.

4. Which is the largest island?

a, Madagascar.
b, New Guinea.
c, Greenland.

5. Which extinct bird lived on Mauritius?

a, The Phoenix.
b, The Emu.
c, The Dodo.

6. How old are the oldest trees?

a, 3000 years old.
b, 6000 years old.
c, 9000 years old.

7. Which is the fastest land animal?

a, Ostrich.
b, Giraffe.
c, Cheetah.

8. What is the percentage of oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere?

a, 18.
b, 23.
c, 33.

9. What percentage of the Earth's surface is covered in water?

a, 50.
b, 60.
c, 70.

10. Which is the longest mountain range on our planet?

a, The Himalayas.
b, The Rockies.
c, The Andes.

11. Which is the highest waterfall in the world?

a, Niagara.
b, Angel.
c, Iguazú.

12. Who was the first explorer to reach the South Pole?

a, Roald Amundsen.
b, Ernest Shackleton.
c, Robert Falcon Scott.


You can find the key here.


















Earthrise