Recent developments in astronomy have made it possible to detect planets in our own Milky Way and in other galaxies.

detect ^{v.to discover or notice sth, especially sth that is not easy to see, hear, etc. 发现，觉察}

• The tests are designed to detect the disease early.
• an instrument that can detect small amounts of radiation 

the Milky Way = the Galaxy ^银河

• How many of you have seen the Milky Way, the Milky Galaxy in the sky? ^{你们有多少人见过银河，天上的银河系？}
• Supernovas in the Milky Way are the likeliest source for most of the cosmic rays reaching Earth. ^{银河系中的超新星最有可能是大多数宇宙射线到达地球的来源。}
• Isn't that strange that the Milky Way is the galaxy that the planet earth is in, and most of us have never seen it? ^{银河系是地球所在的星系，而我们大多数人从未见过它，这不是很奇怪吗？}
• The Galaxy consists of 100 billion stars. ^{银河系由1千亿颗恒星组成。}

This is a major achievement because, in relative terms, planets are very small and do not emit light.

in relative terms ^{compared with other, similar things 相对来说}

• Students have less money in relative terms, but spend more on books. 
• They can only be our enemies in relative terms.“敌人”只不过是相对而言而已。
• This is a major achievement because,in relative terms这是一个重要的成就，因为相对来说

Finding planets is proving hard enough, but finding life on them will prove infinitely more difficult.

prove (to be) + adj. / n. ^{被证明是…}

• The search proved difficult, for the puma was often observed at one place in the morning and at another place 20 miles away in the evening.

infinitely ^{adv. very much ― used esp. when comparing things （尤其与比较级连用）…得多}

• Your English is infinitely better than my German.
• Travel is infinitely more comfortable now than it used to be. 

far / much / even / still / yet + 比较级 ^…得多

The first question to answer is whether a planet can actually support life. ^主系表

support ^{v. to provide the right conditions, such as enough food and water, for life （提供合适的条件以）维持生命，使活下去}

• The land is so poor here that it cannot support any crops. 
• Because of pollution, this lake is now too acid to support fish.

In our own solar system, for example, Venus is far too hot and Mars is far too cold to support life.

sth. be far too adj. and sth. be far too adj. to do ^{具有两个过度的特点，导致做某件事变得不合适或无法完成（负面表达）}

• The box is far too heavy and the hallway is far too narrow to carry it through.  ^{箱子太重了，而且走廊太窄，根本无法把它搬过去。}
• The weather is far too cold and the roads are far too icy to go hiking today. ^{天气太冷了，而且路面结冰，今天根本不适合去远足。}
• This project is far too complex and the deadline is far too tight to complete it on time. ^{这个项目太复杂了，而且截止日期过于紧迫，不可能按时完成。}
• The movie is far too long and the plot is far too boring to keep the audience engaged. ^{这部电影太长了，而且剧情太无聊，无法让观众保持兴趣。}
• The dress is far too expensive and the size is far too small to be worth buying. ^{这件衣服太贵了，而且尺码太小，不值得购买。}

Only the Earth provides ideal conditions, and even here it has taken more than four billion years for plant and animal life to evolve.

it takes … (for …) to do sth. ^{对某人来说做某事花了多少时间}

• It took a few minutes for his eyes to adjust to the dark.
• It can take as long as eight days to rig up rope ladders and to establish supply bases before a descent can be made into a very deep cave.