how many planets are in the universe

The number of planets in the universe is a fascinating but unknowable figure, due to the sheer size and complexity of the cosmos. Here’s a breakdown to clarify:

1. Within Our Solar System: We know of 8 planets within our solar system—Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

2. Beyond Our Solar System (Exoplanets): Astronomers have discovered thousands of exoplanets (planets outside our solar system) orbiting stars in our galaxy, the Milky Way. It's estimated that there might be billions of planets within our galaxy alone.

3. Galaxies: The observable universe contains billions of galaxies, each with potentially billions of planets. The total number of planets across the entire universe is therefore extremely high, and it's an area of ongoing research and discovery.

Given these vast numbers and the fact that our understanding of the universe is always expanding with new observations and discoveries, it's impossible to provide an exact count. The universe's scale makes counting every planet an endeavor beyond current capabilities.