re: Observing the Earth
Earth has indeed lots of things going on its surface, its atmosphere, its oceans, its mountains and it's vital we know more about them.
The Earth has a star that's also influencing its Van Allen belts and we must know as much about the Sun as we can.
The Earth has rocky neighbours and we must know where they are, what they are, how dangerous they are.
The Earth has a Moon that has kept traces of our past (we can't study on Earth because everything gets eroded) and we mus study them too.
And the Earth also , from a great distance, has several things to teach us: humility through its fragility (in the cold vastness of space) and inspiration through its beauty.
Raoul