By using NASA's Deep Impact space probe and Earth, astronomers are working at developing techniques which will allow them to search for liquid water on the surface of a planet orbiting another star. Water vapor has already been found in the atmospheres of some exoplanets, but finding water on the surface of a rocky world orbiting within the habitable zone of its star would make that world a strong candidate for hosting life.
Deep Impact took pictures of Earth from millions of miles away, simulating the view astronomers would have of an Earthlike exoplanet. By analyzing the shifting light, astronomers were able to deduce Earth has both land and water on its surface and an atmosphere that supports clouds. They think the technique would work on exoplanets, as well. The next step is to find an exoplanet as small as Earth.
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