space.com — The latest study on the likely distribution of planets in our galaxy has found that at least 160 billion alien worlds exist in our Milky Way. Astronomers say the survey, based on estimates and computer projects, means that at least 1.6 planets circle each star in our galaxy. See how the alien planet population of our galaxy stacks up in the SPACE.com infographic above.
Feb 2, 2012 View in Crawl 4
dougrochfordFeb 2, 2012
We need to be able to travel faster than the speed of light....way faster. There are so many planets out there to discover. We need to solve our primative problems here on Earth and then we can explore space. There are probably so many awesome planets out there. I wonder how many solar systems are very similar to ours..... Now imagine the ones that are very different. Almost creepy, right?
- dougrochford
takamalakFeb 2, 2012
FTL breakthroughs would be awesome but not really required... at first. If we identify a planet candidate worth a visit and it's within 50 LY then a ship based off of known but unrealized concepts would be manageable. We have a doable concept on the drawing board that can get us to close to .75c, anti-matter rocket propulsion, but the difficulty is in producing enough of the fuel for a long voyage. Now if we were to discover a way to mass produce, or find some anti-matter fuel, that would be something.
takamalakFeb 2, 2012
Awesome. If only 1% of those planets in our galaxy are in the habitable (by human standards) zone that that is still 1.6 billion planets. At that is a conservative estimate. By human habitable I mean planets with between .8 and 1.2 G gravity, in a habitable zone orbit around a G class star, 16-36 hour rotation period, and a planet with active tectonics that can sustain a magnetosphere. A moon(s) would be nice too to help maintain a steady axial tilt.
jaketyson85Feb 2, 2012
and the jewel of them all is the earth where god chose to start life. we are the exact perfect distance and tilt from the sun with just the perfectly balanced atmosphere with growing plants as food. what are the odds? impossible without god. give credit where it is do.
chadpyleFeb 2, 2012
These are exciting times, my friends.