Lynne Thoman

Yes. I wish I knew, though, more about the stars and what I'm looking at.

Yes. I wish I knew, though, more about the stars and what I'm looking at.

What are a couple of things that would surprise people about space and exoplanets?

What are a couple of things that would surprise people about space and exoplanets?

As we think about alien life, life elsewhere in the universe, it's useful to think about the wide variety of life on Earth. There are animals on Earth deep in the sea that don't need oxygen and others that don't need sunlight.

As we think about alien life, life elsewhere in the universe, it's useful to think about the wide variety of life on Earth. There are animals on Earth deep in the sea that don't need oxygen and others that don't need sunlight.

And there are other animals that can survive temperatures as low as negative 50 degrees centigrade, negative 58 degrees Fahrenheit, like the Siberian salamander in northern Russia, which can actually freeze solid during the winter and then thaw out when the weather warms.

And there are other animals that can survive temperatures as low as negative 50 degrees centigrade, negative 58 degrees Fahrenheit, like the Siberian salamander in northern Russia, which can actually freeze solid during the winter and then thaw out when the weather warms.

And there are also animals that can thrive in scorching temperatures as high as 175 degrees centigrade, almost 350 degrees Fahrenheit, such as the Pompeii worm, which lives in hydrothermal vents in the depths of the ocean. Do you think we'll be able to recognize life on other planets?

And there are also animals that can thrive in scorching temperatures as high as 175 degrees centigrade, almost 350 degrees Fahrenheit, such as the Pompeii worm, which lives in hydrothermal vents in the depths of the ocean. Do you think we'll be able to recognize life on other planets?

Do you think that there are or have been other advanced civilizations elsewhere in the universe?

Do you think that there are or have been other advanced civilizations elsewhere in the universe?

Can you explain how astronomers are essentially time travelers?

Can you explain how astronomers are essentially time travelers?

That to me is so interesting. Sarah, I believe as a non-astronomer, there are essentially two parts of the universe. There is the observable part of the universe and the non-observable part, if you will. What do we know about the observable universe?

That to me is so interesting. Sarah, I believe as a non-astronomer, there are essentially two parts of the universe. There is the observable part of the universe and the non-observable part, if you will. What do we know about the observable universe?

How large is the observable universe approximately?

How large is the observable universe approximately?

Your life's work is finding a planet habitable for us, a planet in the so-called Goldilocks zone. What would that look like and how are you hoping to find one?

Your life's work is finding a planet habitable for us, a planet in the so-called Goldilocks zone. What would that look like and how are you hoping to find one?