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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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14y ago
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6mo ago

It is difficult to find Earth-like planets elsewhere in the galaxy because they are small and dim compared to their host stars, making them hard to detect using current observational techniques. Additionally, Earth-like planets need to be at the right distance from their star (in the habitable zone) to support liquid water and potentially life, which further limits the number of potential candidates.

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Q: Why is it difficult to find earth like planets elsewhere in the galaxy?
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