One of Billions - no say!
How many galaxies are out there?
In 1999 the Hubble Space Telescope estimated that there were 125 billion galaxies in the universe, and recently with the new camera HST has actually observed 3,000 visible galaxies, which is twice as much as they observed before with the old camera. I'm emphasizing "visible" because observations with radio telescopes, infrared cameras, x-ray cameras, etc. would detect other galaxies that are not detected by Hubble. As observations keep on going and astronomers explore more of our universe, the number of galaxies detected will increase. It's safe to say - there are a lot of galaxies in the universe. Most experts agree that the count is at least in the hundreds of billions. Holy calculator! That is really a lot.
How many solar systems are in a galaxy?
The Sun is one of around 200 billion stars just in the Milky Way galaxy alone. Scientists estimate that there are many billions of solar systems in our galaxy.
So...
Our solar system has 8 or 9 planets (Pluto got demoted). Our solar system is one of about a hundred billion (nobody counted them - it's probably more) solar systems in our galaxy. Our galaxy (Milky Way - did someone pay for the naming rights? What a great idea) is one of several hundred billion in the universe (again, no official count, but the number is a chubby one).
So...
There are billions (and billions) of planets out there? Yup! Almost too many to imagine.
So...
What are the chances that our Earth is the only planet to have developed intelligent life?
What are the chances that human life on this particular planet turns out to be the most advanced and intelligent life form of all?
What are the chances that ours is the only planet to figure out how to escape its own atmosphere and do some traveling?
Some might suggest that the distance between solar systems (long way) and then between galaxies (pack a lunch) make this type of travel less imaginable. Still - even if life (intelligent life) is stuck in another solar system or galaxy (remember there are billions), can we doubt for a second that they exist. Since we may never say hello (or known about it), they may be irrelevant - but can we be silly enough to think we're it?
In 1999 the Hubble Space Telescope estimated that there were 125 billion galaxies in the universe, and recently with the new camera HST has actually observed 3,000 visible galaxies, which is twice as much as they observed before with the old camera. I'm emphasizing "visible" because observations with radio telescopes, infrared cameras, x-ray cameras, etc. would detect other galaxies that are not detected by Hubble. As observations keep on going and astronomers explore more of our universe, the number of galaxies detected will increase. It's safe to say - there are a lot of galaxies in the universe. Most experts agree that the count is at least in the hundreds of billions. Holy calculator! That is really a lot.
How many solar systems are in a galaxy?
The Sun is one of around 200 billion stars just in the Milky Way galaxy alone. Scientists estimate that there are many billions of solar systems in our galaxy.
So...
Our solar system has 8 or 9 planets (Pluto got demoted). Our solar system is one of about a hundred billion (nobody counted them - it's probably more) solar systems in our galaxy. Our galaxy (Milky Way - did someone pay for the naming rights? What a great idea) is one of several hundred billion in the universe (again, no official count, but the number is a chubby one).
So...
There are billions (and billions) of planets out there? Yup! Almost too many to imagine.
So...
What are the chances that our Earth is the only planet to have developed intelligent life?
What are the chances that human life on this particular planet turns out to be the most advanced and intelligent life form of all?
What are the chances that ours is the only planet to figure out how to escape its own atmosphere and do some traveling?
Some might suggest that the distance between solar systems (long way) and then between galaxies (pack a lunch) make this type of travel less imaginable. Still - even if life (intelligent life) is stuck in another solar system or galaxy (remember there are billions), can we doubt for a second that they exist. Since we may never say hello (or known about it), they may be irrelevant - but can we be silly enough to think we're it?
I'm not.
France just released its previously classified information regarding unexplained activity. It is fascinating stuff.
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