Exploration is the act of searching or traveling for the purpose of discovery, e.g. of unknown regions, including space (space exploration), or oil, gas, coal, ores, caves, water (also known as prospecting), or information.

Exploration has existed as long as human beings, but its peak is seen as being during the Age of Exploration when European navigators travelled around the world.

In scientific research, exploration is one of three purposes of research (the other two being description and explanation). Exploration is the attempt to develop an initial, rough understanding of some phenomenon.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exploration