Question

How many Earth-sized planets orbit in the habitable zones of Sun-like stars and red dwarfs in the Milky Way?

a) Millions
b) Thousands
c) Billions
d) Exact number unknown

Answer 1

Estimating the number of Earth-sized planets in the habitable zones of Sun-like stars and red dwarfs in the Milky Way involves several factors. Based on current observations, more than 40% of stars have Earth-size planets within the habitable zone, with about 300 confirmed or candidate exoplanets. It is estimated that there are about 30 billion Earth-size planets in our galaxy.

Step-by-step explanation:

Estimating the number of Earth-sized planets in the habitable zones of Sun-like stars and red dwarfs in the Milky Way involves several factors. Based on current observations, more than 40% of stars have Earth-size planets orbiting within the habitable zone. Approximately 300 of these exoplanets have been confirmed or considered candidates for habitability. Considering that there are about 100 billion stars in the Milky Way, it is estimated that there are about 30 billion Earth-size planets in our galaxy.

Keywords: Earth-size planets, habitable zones, Sun-like stars, red dwarfs, Milky Way