The Earth, the sun and the stars have fascinated humankind from prehistoric times. Great efforts have been made to understand their nature and to make use of their characteristics for improving the quality of life. Interests in geosciences and astronomy that have developed from these efforts continue to fascinate not only specialists but almost every person in any profession today, and represent a basic element of the science literacy of citizens in 21st century. This article summarizes our present understanding of (1) Earth's atmosphere and ocean, (2) the Earth's interior, (3) the sun and the solar system, and (4) stars and the universe. It is a summary of the report by the "Earth, Universe and Environment" Committee of the "Science Literacy for the 21st Century" Program. The text is structured as answers to 23 most frequently asked questions.
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