New calculations from researcher Michelle Kunimoto at the University of British Columbia (UBC) estimates the likeliness of up to six billion Earth-like planets in our galaxy. In order to be considered Earth-like, a terrestrial planet must be orbiting in the habitable zone of a Sun-like (G-type) star. The habitable zone is the orbital region around a star in which an Earth-like planet could support liquid water, and potentially life, on its surface. In addition, Michelle has discovered 17 new exo-planets, recovered thousands of known planets, and observed new characteristics of the radius gap.
“Estimating how common different kinds of planets are around different stars can provide important constraints on planet formation and evolution theories, and help optimize future missions dedicated to finding exoplanets,” stated Kunimoto. Click the link below to read more!
As many as six billion Earth-like planets in our galaxy, according to new estimates
- Image Credit: NASA Ames/W Stenzel.
