 In 2013, astronomers reported, based on "Kepler" space mission data, that there could be as many as 40 billion Earth- and super-Earth-sized planets orbiting in the habitable zones of Sun-like stars and red dwarfs within the Milky Way.11 billion of these estimated planets may be orbiting Sun-like stars.The nearest such planet may be 12 light-years away, according to the scientists.