* We can only see a tiny fraction of the universe: Our telescopes can only reach so far, and even then, they only see a limited portion of the universe.
* Many planets are too small or too far away to detect: Current technology isn't powerful enough to find every planet out there, especially small ones or ones that are very far from their star.
* Planets are constantly being discovered: Scientists are constantly using new techniques and telescopes to find more planets.
What we DO know:
* Over 5,000 confirmed exoplanets: As of today (October 26, 2023), the NASA Exoplanet Archive lists over 5,000 confirmed exoplanets. This is just a small fraction of the estimated number of planets in our galaxy alone.
* Billions of planets in the Milky Way: Scientists estimate that there are billions of planets in our galaxy, the Milky Way.
* Trillions of planets in the observable universe: Extrapolating from our galaxy, there are likely trillions of planets in the observable universe.
So, while we can't say exactly how many planets are out there, the number is vast and likely beyond our comprehension!
