Are We Alone? Part I: Laying the Foundation

 In 2006, the International Astronomical Union created the following definition of a planet...

IT WAS A CELESTIAL BODY THAT:   orbited the Sun

                                                                   nearly round in shape

                                                                   included all planets in its orbit

                                                                   is not a moon

As a result, Pluto was no longer considered a planet.  We now only have 8 planets which are (in order of distance from the SUN):

1. Mercury
2. Venus
3. Earth
4. Mars
5. Jupiter
6. Saturn
7. Uranus
8. Neptune

We have the following Dwarf Planets (in order of distance from SUN):

1. Ceres
2. Pluto
3. Haumea
4. Makemake
5. Eris

We also have Trans-Neptunian Objects:

1. Orcus
2. Quaoar
3. 2007010
4. Sedna

NOTE:  

1.  From one side of our Solar System to the other side of our Solar System is almost 7.5 BILLION miles and using the latest technology of space travel, it would take almost 12 years to cross our Solar System from one side to the other.  If you could travel at the SPEED OF LIGHT, it would only take a little over 4 hours which is less time than it would take me to drive from East TN to Myrtle Beach, SC.

2.  Our Solar System is located in the Milky Way Galaxy...