Final answer:
The Earth is estimated to be 4.5 billion years old, which is significantly younger than the observable universe, with the latter being around 13.8 billion years old since the Big Bang.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Earth is approximately 4.5 billion years old, according to current scientific evidence and cosmological models. This estimate is supported by a range of geological and astronomical measurements, such as radiometric dating of minerals and the cooling rates of planets. The age of the Earth is a small fraction compared to the age of the observable universe, which astronomers estimate to be about 13.8 billion years old, dating back to an event known as the Big Bang. It's important to note that Earth's formation occurred around 9 billion years after the Big Bang, during the formation of our solar system within the Milky Way galaxy.