How's this for an astronomical estimate? There are at least 50 billion exoplanets in our galaxy. What's more, astronomers estimate that 500 million of these alien worlds are probably sitting inside the habitable zones of their parent stars.
(http://www.pacificparanormal.com/forums/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=3313.0;attach=1787)
Here's a link to the story:
http://news.discovery.com/space/milky-way-stuffed-with-50-billion-alien-worlds.html
Spectacularly beautiful, tantalizing, and hopeful . . . I wish I could live for another thousand years to see what they find and when. Even in the next decade we're likely to make some amazing discoveries on extrasolar habitable worlds, so I take some consolation in that.
Hey, has anyone been following the scuttlebutt on Tyche, the alleged newly discovered planet in our own solar system that's supposed to be four times the size of Jupiter but way the hell out in the Oort cloud? There's no photo evidence as yet; it's all theoretical and based on the data, alone, but it has real supporters--and real detractors, of course. If it is proven, though, they won't hail it as the new ninth planet, because it's not of our solar parentage; they theorize it's a captive from another system.
This is just mind blowing.
Yeah, sure....we are the only living things in the entire galaxy. Just pure numbers alone have to tell you that it is impossible there aren't other worlds out there.
Beautiful photo, just stunning.
The Tyche theory is interesting... they are basing it on the movement of planets and asteroids in relationship to gravity. *Something* should be there.
Of those 500 million there are at least 50 million that have life on them. Of those 50 million, 1,000 have intelligent life. Of those 1,000 there are 18 that are really into anal probing. And unfortunately 4 of those regularly visit our planet.
Interesting fact: Of the 4 anal-probing planets that visit us regularly, 3 of them are dominated by Scientologists. The 4th one is dominated by a group that worships "He-Man." They haven't visited our planet since 1984, which is why there haven't been any good He-Man movies out since then. But as soon as you see a "He-Man" movie in the theaters, stand by to stand by everyone...