From BBC.Co.UK, January 8, 2013
"Astronomers say that one in six stars hosts an Earth-sized planet in a close orbit – suggesting a total of 17 billion such planets in our galaxy.
"The result comes from an analysis of planet candidates gathered by Nasa's Kepler space observatory.
"The Kepler scientists also announced 461 new planet candidates, bringing the satellites' total haul to 2,740.
"Their findings were announced at the 221st meeting of the American Astronomical Society in California."
By the way, if you are interested in identifying the stars and planets with your smart phone, download the SkyView App. It's amazing. See their link here for the iPhone. I understand it's available for other phones as well.
Thanks Rick …. but it would be wrong to extrapolate that fact into an argument that there are 17 billion chances for earth-like life ???
Thanks S3S.
You are correct, scientists have been wrong before, but I thought it was a very interesting story.
Indeed it is, as all such stories are to me. I’m still trying to wrap my head around what’s happening in this galaxy, particularly, what the Voyager Craft are up to, as the first prepares to break through the heliopause and enter interstellar space, for the first time:
http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/
Neat link.
Did you try the SkyView App?
The view puts everything into perspective; you see how ‘close’ Earth is to the Sun?
Re: App, we have had it for sometime, though rarely get the chance to use it when skies, by default, are grey/overcast (though, very white today, due heavy snowfall):)
I think you’ve sent your overcast skies here today, but we need a cool down.
I just learned about the app while visiting Abaco a few days ago with family. The skies there were fabulously clear and not so many city lights.
The thing that boggles my mind is how fast the International Space Station circles the Earth. Wow!