Did you know you’re moving at incredible speeds right now—while just sitting still on Earth (地球 ちきゅう)?
Earth’s Spin (自転 じてん): Our planet rotates at approximately 0.46 km per second (秒速 びょうそく) at the equator.
Orbit around the Sun (公転 こうてん): Together we zoom around the Sun (太陽 たいよう) at 30 km per second as part of the Solar System (太陽系 たいようけい).
Journey through the Galaxy (銀河 ぎんが): The entire Solar System glides through the Milky Way at roughly 230 km per second.
This means that in the time it takes to blink, you’ve already traveled hundreds of kilometers through space (宇宙 うちゅう)—completely unaware of the motion. So the next time you gaze at the night sky filled with celestial bodies (天体 てんたい), remember: you’re on a breathtaking cosmic ride, perfectly balanced and supported by gravity (重力 じゅうりょく).
One minute, one wonder. Until next time—keep exploring words and worlds.
KEY TERMS
地球 ちきゅう Earth
自転 じてん rotation (spinning on its axis)
公転 こうてん revolution (orbiting around something)
銀河 ぎんが galaxy
太陽 たいよう Sun
太陽系 たいようけい Solar System
秒速 びょうそく per second (speed per second)
宇宙 うちゅう universe / outer space
天体 てんたい celestial body
重力 じゅうりょく gravity
TANPOPO 