Final answer:
The claim that planets are very rare in the Milky Way is false; recent research and data from the Kepler mission indicate there are likely at least 50 billion planets in our galaxy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'Planets are very rare in the Milky Way' is false. Analyses of data from the Kepler mission and other research have shown that planets, including small terrestrial ones and 'super Earths', are actually quite common in our galaxy. It's estimated that about a quarter of all stars may have exoplanet systems, suggesting there could be at least 50 billion planets in the Milky Way. Therefore, planets are not rare but rather a frequent occurrence in our galaxy. This abundance indicates that there are likely many billions of planets resembling Earth, which are termed 'exo-Earths', in the Milky Way.