Synopsis
Here is a summary of the key points from the research paper:
- It was written by Steve B. Howell from NASA Ames Research Center.
- The discovery of exoplanets (planets orbiting stars other than our Sun) is a relatively new field, with the first exoplanets discovered in the 1990s. Since then, over 5,000 exoplanets have been confirmed.
- Exoplanet research now spans many scientific disciplines including astronomy, astrobiology, biology, astrophysics, geology, and planetary science.
- Key challenges facing exoplanet research include:
- Determining occurrence rates of Earth-like planets
- Understanding habitable environments and conditions for life
- Advancing techniques for atmospheric spectroscopy of exoplanets to detect biosignatures
- Improving angular resolution and starlight suppression capabilities of telescopes
- Coordinating observations between space telescopes and ground-based observatories
- Upcoming space telescopes like James Webb (JWST) and Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) and next generation extremely large ground-based telescopes will provide new capabilities for exoplanet observations.
- Exoplanet research brings together diverse expertise worldwide and has the potential to profoundly impact our understanding of our place in the universe. Overcoming the grand challenges will require cross-disciplinary collaboration and advanced technology development.
In summary, the discovery of exoplanets has opened up a new frontier in astronomy that could help answer fundamental questions about life in the universe. But major technical hurdles remain to be able to characterize exoplanet atmospheres and environments to search for biosignatures.
