STScI Logo  Kaltenegger Abstract  Deciphering Spectral
Fingerprints of Biomarkers on Exo-Earths Lisa Kaltenegger
(Harvard-Smithsonian CfA) In this talk we discuss how we can
read a planet’s spectrum to assess its habitability. What can we
look for in a spectral fingerprint of Earth and super-Earths
that can indicate life? In this talk we explore biomarkers on
rocky planets, at different wavelengths, geological epochs,
different biota, and their detectability. To search for signs of
life we need to set the planet’s atmosphere in context with the
observable features. The detection and of Earth-like planets is
approaching rapidly and ground as well as space based telescopes
to characterization them, are already in development phase (ELT,
TNT, GMT, James Webb Space Telescope, Darwin, TPF, NWO). We will
assess their effectiveness and the best observation strategy to
search for the signatures of a biosphere.