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The galaxy is extremely large. It is elliptical in shape, and measures roughly 80,000 light years on its short axis and 200,000 light years on its long axis. Even a single light year (the distance light travels in a year) is a very long distance, approximately seven trillion miles. The only way we have of investigating the galaxy at large is by telescope, and even the best telescopes can only see so much. When you are looking at something that is on the order of quadrillions of miles away, it is really hard to see. That is why it is difficult to find Earth-like planets elsewhere in the galaxy.

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What is the name for one of the planets in your galaxy?

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It is estimated that there are billions of stars in the Milky Way galaxy that could potentially have Earth-like planets within their habitable zones. The exact number is difficult to determine with certainty due to the vastness of our galaxy and the limitations of current technology.


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Compared to some other planets in the same galaxy, yes; it is actually fractions of the size of other planets in this galaxy


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The closest galaxy that has planets is the Andromeda galaxy. It is the nearest galactic neighbor to the earth. The Milky Way has other planets too.


Why is IR critical in the search for life elsewhere?

IR as in infrared? Who says it is "critical"? Search for life elsewhere in the Galaxy, or here on Earth?


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Which galaxy are the planets on?

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It is extremely likely, but we cannot yet find planets from that far away. All the planets we have found to date are in our own galaxy. The Andromeda galaxy is 2.5 million light years away whereas our galaxy is about 100,000 light years across.


Is the earth 6th biggest planet in the galaxy?

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