The Search for Living Worlds and the Connection to Our Cosmic Origins
M.A. Barstow, S. Aigrain, J. Barstow, M. Barthelemy, B. Biller, A., Bonanos, L. Buchhave, S. Casewell, C. Charbonnel, S. Charlot, R. Davies, N., Devaney, C. Evans, M. Ferrari, L. Fossatti, B. Gaensicke, M. Garcia, A. Gomez, de Castro, T. Henning, C. Lintott, C. Knigge, C. Neiner

TL;DR
This paper discusses the technological advancements and scientific strategies for detecting Earth-like planets in habitable zones, emphasizing the potential of large UV-optical-IR space telescopes like LUVOIR to find signs of life beyond Earth.
Contribution
It advocates for ESA's involvement in developing a large UV-optical-IR space telescope to search for and characterize potentially habitable exoplanets, building on recent technological progress.
Findings
Advances in space imaging enable detection of Earth-like exoplanets.
Large UV-optical-IR telescopes can characterize exoplanet atmospheres.
LUVOIR could be the key mission to answer if we are alone.
Abstract
One of the most exciting scientific challenges is to detect Earth-like planets in the habitable zones of other stars in the galaxy and search for evidence of life. The ability to observe and characterise dozens of potentially Earth-like planets now lies within the realm of possibility due to rapid advances in key space and imaging technologies. The associated challenge of directly imaging very faint planets in orbit around nearby very bright stars is now well understood, with the key instrumentation also being perfected and developed. Such advances will allow us to develop large transformative telescopes, covering a broad UV-optical-IR spectral range, which can carry out the detailed research programmes designed to answer the questions we wish to answer: Carry out high contrast imaging surveys of nearby stars to search for planets within their habitable zones. Characterise the…
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Taxonomy
TopicsAstronomy and Astrophysical Research · Photocathodes and Microchannel Plates · Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
