12-25-2025, 03:13 AM
I'm an amateur astronomer and I've been following the discoveries from missions like TESS and Kepler with fascination. The sheer number of confirmed exoplanets is staggering, but I'm particularly interested in the methods used to characterize their atmospheres. With the James Webb Space Telescope now operational, what are the most promising upcoming targets for detecting biosignatures, and how do researchers prioritize which exoplanets to observe given the limited telescope time? Are there specific planetary systems or types, like those around M-dwarf stars, that are considered better candidates for finding signs of life?