NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration

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  1. Question

    What is the difference between an astrobiologist and an exobiologist?

    There is very little difference. The term exobiology has been in use since the early 1970s, while astrobiology has been favored over the past decade. Generally, the term astrobiology is broader, with more emphasis on understanding the origin and evolution of life on Earth, in addition to the search for life beyond the Earth. In practice, however, the two fields are nearly synonymous, just life astronomy and astrophysics. David Morrison
    NAI Senior Scientist

    November 6, 2006