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What is the significance of the discovery of extrasolar planets?
Observing exoplanets allows us to determine whether or not we actually understand those processes, even in our own solar system. In fact, what we’ve seen so far is that most stellar systems don’t look like our solar system.
What is the significance of TRAPPIST-1?
The TRAPPIST-1 system hosts seven Earth-sized, temperate exoplanets orbiting an ultra-cool dwarf star. As such, it represents a remarkable setting to study the formation and evolution of terrestrial planets that formed in the same protoplanetary disk.
What did NASA recently announce about the TRAPPIST-1 system?
In a press release on February 22, 2017, NASA announced the discovery of the most Earth-sized planets found in the habitable zone of a single star, called TRAPPIST-1.
Is there life on Trappist 1e?
Three of the seven (e, f, and g) are in the habitable zone. TRAPPIST-1e is similar to Earth’s mass, radius, density, gravity, temperature, and stellar flux. Furthermore, according to the Habitable Exoplanets Catalog, TRAPPIST-1e is one of the most potentially habitable exoplanets discovered.
What does TRAPPIST mean in English?
Trappist. / (ˈtræpɪst) / noun. a member of a branch of the Cistercian order of Christian monks, the Reformed Cistercians of the Strict Observance which originated at La Trappe in France in 1664. They are noted for their rule of silence.
What is the significance of the planet described in this article?
What is the significance of the planet described in this article? It was the first rocky planet discovered in the habitable zone around a star not in our own solar system. What is the habitable zone? It the region around a star where liquid water could exist.
What do the TRAPPIST-1 planets have in common?
The close orbits of the TRAPPIST-1 planets are reminiscent of Jupiter and its system of orbiting moons, as of Feb 2017. Any of the TRAPPIST-1 planets could have water on them, though the three in the habitable zone are more likely to have liquid water, as of Feb 2017.
What is the most recent exoplanet discovery?
Exoplanet discovery. In a press release on February 22, 2017, NASA announced the discovery of the most Earth-sized planets found in the habitable zone of a single star, called TRAPPIST-1. This system of seven rocky worlds–all of them with the potential for water on their surface–is an exciting discovery in the search for life on other worlds.
What is the planet hop from TRAPPIST-1e?
Planet hop from TRAPPIST-1e. An artist’s fantasy of the surface of TRAPPIST-1e, a stop on a tour of this seven-world system. Take a trip with the Exoplanet Travel Bureau to the fourth planet in the TRAPPIST-1 system, TRAPPIST-1e, a world swimming in water in perpetual twilight.
What can we learn about life on exoplanets from Hubble’s Hubble telescope?
NASA’s Hubble Telescope made the first atmospheric study of these Earth-sized exoplanets last year, uncovering clues that increase the chances the two worlds are suitable for life. The extraordinary TRAPPIST-1 finding was made possible with over 21 days of near-contiguous Spitzer Space Telescope observations of the ultra-cool M-dwarf.