Given the pace of discovery using Earth and spaceborne observatories, it's not too much of a stretch to assume that sooner or later a planet orbiting its parent star in the "habitable" zone, a region where liquid water is likely to exist, will be found. So let's assume that a planet has been found in this "Goldilocks" zone. How would we go about inspecting that planet to determine if there is, in fact, life present? What's next? Paul Gilster explains.
Wayne
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