The detection of exoplanets orbiting other stars has revolutionized our view of the cosmos. First results suggest that it is teeming with a fascinating diversity of rocky planets, including those in the habitable zone. Even our closest star, Proxima Centauri, harbors a small planet in its habitable zone, Proxima b. With the next generation of telescopes, we will be able to peer into the atmospheres of rocky planets and get a glimpse into other worlds. Using our own planet and its wide range of biota as a Rosetta stone, we explore how we could detect habitability and signs of life on exoplanets over interstellar distances. Current telescopes are not yet powerful enough to characterize habitable exoplanets, but the next generation of telescopes that is already being built will have the capabilities to characterize close-by habitable worlds. The discussion on what makes a planet a habitat and how to detect signs of life is lively. This review will show the latest results, the challenges of how to identify and characterize such habitable worlds, and how near-future telescopes will revolutionize the field. For the first time in human history, we have developed the technology to detect potential habitable worlds. Finding thousands of exoplanets has taken the field of comparative planetology beyond the Solar System.

Lisa Kaltenegger

Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics

自 1963 年出版的《天文学和天体物理学年度评论》涵盖了天文学和天体物理学领域的重大发展，包括：太阳；太阳系和系外行星；星星;星际介质；星系和星系；活跃的星系核；宇宙学；和仪器和技术，以及新研究领域的发展历史。

The Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics has been published since 1963, covering significant developments in the fields of astronomy and astrophysics. This includes topics such as the Sun, the solar system and exoplanets, stars, interstellar medium, galaxies and their evolution, active galactic nuclei, cosmology, as well as advancements in instruments and techniques. The journal also discusses the historical development of new research areas.

《Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics》自1963年出版，涵盖了天文学和天体物理学领域的重要发展，包括太阳、太阳系及系外行星、恒星、星际介质、星系及其演化、活跃星系核、宇宙学，以及相关仪器和技术的进展。此外，期刊还探讨了新研究领域的发展历程。

Category	Quartile
物理与天体物理	1
物理与天体物理, 天文与天体物理	1

How to Characterize Habitable Worlds and Signs of Life

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Category	Quartile
ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS	1