Atafu Atoll, a small coral island in the South Pacific,
demonstrates that Earth is firmly in the middle of the Sun's
habitable zone -- the distance from the Sun where temperatures
are just right for liquid water. Scientists are looking for
planets in the habitable zones of other star systems, which are
considered the most likely home for Earth-like life. This image
was shot by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station.
[NASA] Many people aren't fond of rainy days. But if you're a
scientist looking for life elsewhere in the universe, planets
with rainy days are just what you want to find. BOSS: My name is
Alan Boss. I'm a member of the Science Working Group for the
Kepler Project. The habitable zone is the distance from a star
where an Earth-like planet with an Earth-like atmosphere should
have temperatures amenable to having liquid water somewhere on
its surface. Basically it's a planet where you might have a
rainy day. [:18] The Kepler project is a space telescope that's
been looking for Earth-size