How old is the Earth?

Answer: The Earth is approximately 4.54 billion years old.

Our beloved home planet Earth is about 4.54 billion years old, plus or minus 50 million years. Scientists estimate its age based on various methods, including radiometric dating of rocks and minerals. The Earth’s formation began from a cloud of dust and gas called the solar nebula. About 4.6 billion years ago, this nebula collapsed under its gravitational force, forming a spinning disk. The Sun formed at the center, and the leftover material in the disk began to accumulate, eventually coalescing into the planets, with Earth forming around 4.54 billion years ago.

Determining the Earth’s age involves studying the oldest rocks on the planet and meteorites. One notable method is radiometric dating, which measures the decay of radioactive isotopes in rocks. The oldest in-place rock found on Earth comes from the Acasta Gneiss complex in the Canadian Shield. Scientists estimate its age to be around 4.02 billion years, providing valuable insights into the planet’s early history.