TRAPPIST-1
Measuring the mass and diameter of a planet reveals its density, which can give scientists clues about its composition. Scientists now know the density of the seven TRAPPIST-1 planets with a higher precision than any other planets in the universe, other than those in our own solar system. https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA23870
Space Exploration

7 Planets small and rocky like earth – TRAPPIST-1 update

Leena M.

Remember the 7 planets discovered in 2016 and 2017 that were spotted by a telescope in Chile? Although astronomers predicted the planets would be rocky, a new study just confirmed it. TRAPPIS-1 is a super-cool red dwarf star with a massive radius, larger than Jupiter, 84x it’s mass.

These planets are less than 40 light-years away from Earth. According to scientists at least 3 of these planets are theoretically “habitable zones” which implies that they are rocky and will likely have liquid water.

There was a time when we would find single planets, or single events. That time has passed, with today’s technology we are able to find entire solar systems, galaxies hundreds of light-years away. The future is exciting and humanity will continue to explore and navigate to places we can only dream of today.

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