Exoplanet hunting is evolving from a science searching for exotic new worlds into one that is attempting to better understand these planets and to characterize them. Astrobiologists are especially interested in worlds that might support life.
One important characteristic is the existence of liquid water, which is essential for life on Earth. So astrobiologists have focused on finding other Earths in the region around stars where liquid water might exist, the so-called habitable zone. And they have found dozens of candidates, with many more set to emerge as observatories become more powerful.
However, astronomers cannot study all these planets in detail because observing time is a precious and limited resource. This raises the question of how to identify the most promising exoplanets for further study.
To read more, click here.