Astronomers estimate that there are at least 100 billion solar systems in the Milky Way galaxy.
This estimate is based on the observation that:
- The Milky Way contains 100 to 400 billion stars, and
- Most stars are now believed to have at least one planet orbiting them, thanks to discoveries by missions like Kepler and TESS.
So, if nearly every star hosts planets, then nearly every star can be considered the center of its own solar system (technically called a planetary system).
And because our detection methods are still limited (especially for small or distant planets), the true number of solar systems could be even higher.
Would you like a visual diagram of how many planetary systems may exist across the galaxy’s spiral arms?
