"So what's wrong with the word estimate when used in the context of the number of stars/plants in the universe or galaxy. "
Nothing.
It's just not hard scientific fact and shouldn't be thought of as such until we have PROOF of it's claims. That's what science is about after all..proof and without proof you don't have science, you just have theories, conjectures, philosophies and beliefs, i.e. 'faith'. Of course the faithful make out as if they DO have the truth and everyone else is wrong, just like all other worldviews so that's OK I guess. Just see it for what it is.
We have no PROOF of planets outside the solar system though it is reasonable to believe they are there.
We have absolutely no proof or credible evidence for the existence of ET's (though there is evidence for some type beings probably existing though the evidence seems to be pointing at spiritual rather than extraterrestrial. Which doesn't really fall into the arena of science anyway.)
"What would you do if you had to ascertain the number of grains of sand on your nearest beach - count them or estimate them ?"
Sure I'd take a guess, BUT it is a scientific (truthful) FACT that sand exists, we can see it and touch it and measure it etc. We can't (yet) do that with planets.
"Evidence for extrasolar planets, very strong and getting stronger (1050 planets in 797 planetary systems including 174 multiple planetary systems as of 5 December 2013)."
You mean we have 1050 wobbly stars?
Fair enough, like I said, they may be and probably are planets and I'm happy to believe that they are there BUT..may not be as further evidence evidence comes to light. Maybe if Govcorp spent less on death and destruction and more on space stuff we'd know the answers by now?
