Drake Equation
Calculate Drake Equation instantly with the exact formula and a worked example.
Drake Equation
R★ (stars/yr)
fp
ne
fl
fi
fc
L (yrs)
N (civilizations)
3
More about: Drake Equation
What it calculates
The “Drake Equation” calculator computes N (civilizations) from 7 parameters: r★ (stars/yr), fp, ne, fl, fi, fc, l (yrs).
An astronomy calculation for enthusiasts and scientists.
Example calculation
With parameters R★ (stars/yr) = 1.5, fp = 1, ne = 0.2, fl = 0.1, fi = 0.1, fc = 0.1, L (yrs) = 10,000 the result is 3.
How to use
- Enter r★ (stars/yr), fp, ne, fl, fi, fc and l (yrs) — each field above is adjustable with a slider.
- N (civilizations) is calculated automatically as you type.
- Check the worked example below to see the formula applied to real numbers.
- Copy the result or bookmark this calculator.
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FAQ
How is Drake Equation calculated?
The Drake Equation calculator computes N (civilizations) from r★ (stars/yr), fp, ne, fl, fi, fc, l (yrs). Enter your values above and the exact formula is applied instantly; a worked example with real numbers is shown below.
Is the Drake Equation calculator free?
Yes. It is completely free, needs no signup, runs entirely in your browser, and sends no data to any server.
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