Only today NASA's jet propulsion laboratory (that sounds like a cool place to work...) have announced the find of methane on a planet about 63 light years away. Its significance, as opposed to the many other 'exo-planets' found in recent years, is that this is the first time an organic molecule has been discovered.
Of course, none of these planets have ever been actually seen in a visual sense. We only have one confirmed picture of an exoplanet, as most are detected by tiny fluctuations in the light from stars- as the planet passes in front of the star, from our perspective, there is a slight dip. Along with analysing the spectrum from the planet itself, scientists can work out its composition and size, and subsequently we get pretty artist's impressions of what the planet could, possibly, look like.
If we want a rough idea of how many of these planets might actually have life, or indeed intelligent life actively seeking/sending out forms of communication, we use the Drake equation- quite entertaining to try for yourself.
Astronomy, as you may have noticed, is a passing interest of mine, one I often indulged a few years back thanks to some equipment I was given. During that time, I took the following photo, thought I'd put it on here:
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