Template:Drake

The Drake equation is as follows:

$$N=R^{\ast} \times f_p \times n_e \times f_l \times f_i \times f_c \times L$$


 * N: The number of civilizations with which we might be able to communicate.
 * R*: The average rate of star formation in our galaxy.
 * fp: The fraction of stars which, after formation, have 1 or more planets.
 * ne: The average number of planets that can potentially develop life, per star which has 1 or more planets.
 * fℓ: The fraction of planets that actually do develop life.
 * fi: The fraction of life-developing planets that actually do develop intelligent life.
 * fc: The fraction of civilizations that develop a technology that releases detectable signs of their existence into space.
 * L: The length of time such civilizations release detectable signals into space.