We all get that sense of thrill, wonder, and maybe fear when our sci-fi heroes find a new planet. Scientists get that thrill for each of the thousands of planets around other stars we’ve found in the past 20 years. Scientists ask themselves: is this icy like Hoth or arid like Dune? Does it host pre-industrial civilization like Endor, or has it been decimated by war like Gallifrey? What’s weird about our own Solar System? NASA scientists speculate on what kinds of worlds explorers will find.

[Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.]