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Earth is a blue planet, with about 70% of its surface covered in water. The remaining 30% is land, which is made up of continents, islands, and mountains. Earth's atmosphere is made up of mostly nitrogen and oxygen, with small amounts of other gases. The atmosphere protects us from harmful radiation from the sun and helps to regulate our climate. Earth has a magnetic field that protects us from the solar wind. The solar wind is a stream of charged particles from the sun that can damage our atmosphere and electronics. Earth is home to a wide variety of life, including plants, animals, and humans. Life on Earth is thought to have originated in the oceans about 3.8 billion years ago. Earth is constantly changing. The continents are moving, the climate is changing, and new life is constantly evolving. When you see Earth from space, it is a truly awe-inspiring sight. It is a small, fragile planet, yet it is home to all of us and all of the life that we know. It is our responsibility to take care of Earth and protect it for future generations.

The astronauts and cosmonauts on the International Space Station take pictures of Earth out their windows nearly every day, and over a year that adds up to thousands of photos. The people at the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston had the enviable job of going through this year’s crop to pick their top 17 photos of Earth for 2017—here’s what they chose! Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth:

This video from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center explores the interconnectedness of Earth's systems. It shows how things like dust transport, vegetation, water quality, conservation, and human health are all linked together. The video also highlights the role that NASA plays in observing these systems and understanding how they are changing. The video is narrated by astronaut Jessica Watkins, who shares her insights into the importance of studying Earth from space. She says, "When you see Earth from space, you realize how fragile and precious it is. We need to do everything we can to protect it."