Editing Astronomy (section)

=== Astrobiology ===
{{main|Astrobiology}}
Astrobiology is an interdisciplinary scientific field concerned with the [[abiogenesis|origins]], [[Protocell|early evolution]], distribution, and future of [[life]] in the [[universe]]. Astrobiology considers the question of whether [[extraterrestrial life]] exists, and how humans can detect it if it does.<ref name="about">{{cite web| url=http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/about-astrobiology/ |title=About Astrobiology |access-date=20 October 2008 |date=21 January 2008 |work=NASA Astrobiology Institute |publisher=NASA | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081011192341/http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/about-astrobiology/| archive-date= 11 October 2008}}</ref> The term exobiology is similar.<ref>[http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exobiology Merriam Webster Dictionary entry "Exobiology"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904084642/https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exobiology |date=4 September 2018 }} (accessed 11 April 2013)</ref>

Astrobiology makes use of [[molecular biology]], [[biophysics]], [[biochemistry]], [[chemistry]], astronomy, [[physical cosmology]], [[exoplanetology]] and [[geology]] to investigate the possibility of life on other worlds and help recognize [[biosphere]]s that might be different from that on Earth.<ref>{{cite book |title=The life and death of planet Earth |last1=Ward |first1=P.D. |author2=Brownlee, D. |date=2004 |publisher=Owl Books |location=New York |isbn=978-0-8050-7512-0 }}</ref> [[Abiogenesis|The origin]] and early evolution of life is an inseparable part of the discipline of astrobiology.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://link.springer.com/journal/11084 |title=Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres |work=Journal: Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres |access-date=6 April 2015 |archive-date=8 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200208140912/https://link.springer.com/journal/11084 |url-status=live }}</ref> Astrobiology concerns itself with interpretation of existing [[Scientific method|scientific data]], and although speculation is entertained to give context, astrobiology concerns itself primarily with [[hypotheses]] that fit firmly into existing [[scientific theories]].{{cn|date=March 2025}}

This [[interdisciplinary]] field encompasses research on the origin of [[planetary system]]s, origins of [[List of interstellar and circumstellar molecules|organic compounds in space]], rock-water-carbon interactions, [[abiogenesis]] on Earth, [[planetary habitability]], research on [[biosignature]]s for life detection, and studies on the potential for [[extremophile|life to adapt to challenges]] on Earth and in [[outer space]].<ref name="Goals2016">{{cite news |url=http://astrobiology.com/2016/03/release-of-the-first-roadmap-for-european-astrobiology.html |title=Release of the First Roadmap for European Astrobiology |work=European Science Foundation |publisher=Astrobiology Web |date=29 March 2016 |access-date=2 April 2016 |archive-date=10 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610010327/http://astrobiology.com/2016/03/release-of-the-first-roadmap-for-european-astrobiology.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="NYT-20151218-jc">{{cite news |last=Corum |first=Jonathan |title=Mapping Saturn's Moons |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/12/18/science/space/nasa-cassini-maps-saturns-moons.html |date=18 December 2015 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=18 December 2015 |archive-date=20 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200520124847/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/12/18/science/space/nasa-cassini-maps-saturns-moons.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last = Cockell | first = Charles S. | title = How the search for aliens can help sustain life on Earth | date = 4 October 2012 | url = https://edition.cnn.com/2012/10/02/world/europe/astrobiology-aliens-environment-opinion/index.html?hpt=hp_c4 | work = CNN News | access-date = 8 October 2012 | archive-date = 10 September 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160910182606/http://edition.cnn.com/2012/10/02/world/europe/astrobiology-aliens-environment-opinion/index.html?hpt=hp_c4 | url-status = live }}</ref>