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The Earth travels through space at 490,000 miles per hour as it orbits around the center of the Milky Way galaxy.

Earth Travels Through Space at 490,000 Miles Per Hour

2k viewsPosted 16 years agoUpdated 2 hours ago

Right now, as you read this, you're traveling through space at a staggering 490,000 miles per hour. That's not a typo. While you sit comfortably in your chair, Earth is whipping around the center of the Milky Way galaxy at speeds that make a fighter jet look like it's standing still.

But that's just one of Earth's many speeds. Our planet is constantly moving at multiple scales, each more mind-bending than the last.

Earth's Orbital Dance Around the Sun

First, there's our familiar yearly journey around the Sun. Earth orbits at a relatively modest 67,100 miles per hour—fast enough to travel from Rio de Janeiro to Cape Town in about three minutes. This speed keeps us locked in our comfortable orbit, not too close to fry, not too far to freeze.

The Galactic Merry-Go-Round

But the Sun itself isn't stationary. Our entire solar system is orbiting the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way, dragging Earth along at 490,000 mph (some estimates put it at 447,000 mph). At this breakneck pace, it still takes between 220 to 250 million years to complete one lap around the galaxy.

To put that in perspective: the last time Earth was at this exact position in the galaxy, dinosaurs hadn't even appeared yet. Trilobites were still swimming in ancient seas.

And It Gets Even Faster

The motion doesn't stop there. The Milky Way itself is moving through the universe at approximately 1.3 million miles per hour relative to the cosmic microwave background radiation—the afterglow of the Big Bang.

So when someone asks how fast you're going, the answer depends entirely on your frame of reference:

  • Sitting in a chair? 0 mph
  • Rotating with Earth? About 1,000 mph (at the equator)
  • Orbiting the Sun? 67,100 mph
  • Whirling around the galaxy? 490,000 mph
  • Cruising through the cosmos? 1.3 million mph

Despite these incomprehensible speeds, you don't feel a thing. There's no wind in your hair, no g-forces pushing you back. That's because everything around you—the air, the ground, the atmosphere—is moving right along with you.

Welcome to your high-speed journey through the universe. Enjoy the ride.

Frequently Asked Questions

How fast does Earth travel through space?
Earth moves at 490,000 mph as it orbits the Milky Way's center. It also travels at 67,100 mph around the Sun and roughly 1.3 million mph through the universe relative to cosmic background radiation.
Why don't we feel Earth moving through space?
We don't feel Earth's motion because everything around us—air, buildings, oceans—moves at the same speed. There's no wind resistance or acceleration, similar to how you don't feel motion on a smoothly cruising airplane.
How long does it take Earth to orbit the Milky Way?
Earth takes between 220 and 250 million years to complete one orbit around the center of the Milky Way galaxy. The last time we were at this galactic position, dinosaurs hadn't yet evolved.
What's the difference between Earth's orbital speed and galactic speed?
Earth orbits the Sun at 67,100 mph, but the entire solar system orbits the Milky Way's center at 490,000 mph. Both motions happen simultaneously, like being on a merry-go-round that's also on a moving train.
Is Earth's speed through space constant?
Earth's speeds are relatively constant over human timescales. Its orbital speed around the Sun varies slightly due to elliptical orbit, but galactic and cosmic speeds remain steady over millions of years.

Related Topics

EarthSpeedMilky WayOrbit

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