What is the primary difference regarding confirmed exoplanet numbers between the Milky Way and Andromeda?
Answer
Proximity allows for better detection in the Milky Way
The disparity in confirmed exoplanet counts is entirely due to our observational reach rather than a lack of planets in Andromeda. The Milky Way's proximity allows astronomers to use precise detection methods, whereas the 2.5 million light-year distance to Andromeda masks the subtle signatures of orbiting planets within background noise.
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