on planets

- population
- orbital period
- size
- mass

Then we know where it is approximately, and we can aim the big optical scope at it. Better than just searching randomly not knowing if there is anything there at all.

If we know where they are, then we can get spectrometer readings of their atmospheres and determine if they are potentially habitable. For instance knowing what gases in the atmosphere we can model them against the planet's mass and distance from the sun.

All this before we even get a direct image! Trouble is it'll be another 10 years until Kepler yields any results. Then another few years until they can analyze atmospheres and model the tropospheres. Say, 13-15 years from now, and I'll be a middle-aged man.