I love meeting aliens and getting involved with the inner workings of their societies. As early as 1970, I remember sitting in a tree house and wishing a spaceship would land in my backyard. (Don’t forget: when I was young, scientists hadn’t ruled out the idea of life on Mars and Venus. People actually wondered about life in Venusian swamps and along the Martian canals!)

Alas, as far as I can tell, no spaceships have touched down even though my enormous, six-acre backyard is totally standing by to service them! (“Why,” my neighbors ask, “do you need a runway, landing lights, and a vertical assembly building?” Or, “Was that Elon Musk over at your house again? How often do billionaires drop by for pointers on rocket ship maintenance?”)

We can’t be alone in this universe. As an astronomer, I’ve observed the Milky Way and distant galaxies for over five decades. No kidding. I glanced through my first telescope in 1972 and ultimately earned my Master Observer’s Certificate in 2019. Along the way, astronomers have discovered several thousand extrasolar planets. Some of these planets are even in their solar system’s Goldilocks zone. (Not too hot, not too cold.) This allows the planet (or moon) to have liquid water at least some time in its year. And water means life. Guaranteed. (Probably.)