Earth is the third planet from the Sun. Unique features of its atmosphere, water, and land are critical factors that contribute to the great diversity of life.

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory/Caltech, United States Geological Survey, Goddard Institute for Space Studies, Global Processing Center for International Satellite, Cloud Climatology Project, World Climate Research Program, NASA/Stennis Space Center, Naval Oceanographic Office and Northrop Grumman/DSSD, United States Naval Research Laboratory, Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program, United States Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Service, National Earthquake Information Center, US Air Force Defense Meteorological Satellite Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Geophysical Data Center, University of Wisconsin, Space Science and Engineering Center, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, The SeaWiFS Project and GeoEye, Scientific Visualization Studio