Abstract

It has taken thousands of generations and countless migrations to explore our own small planet. Now, in less than one lifetime, our robot surrogates have ventured to nearly every significant object in the solar system. Vast new territories and landscapes have opened up before our eyes. The experience has transformed the way we understand our species and its place in the universe. It may yet uncover alien life. Join scientists in a discussion of what we are learning today from worlds beyond Earth and find out where this effort is likely to lead us next.