Largest Batch Of Earth-size, Habitable Zone Planets
Largest Batch of Earth-size, Habitable Zone Planets
Our Spitzer Space Telescope has revealed the first known system of seven Earth-size planets around a single star. Three of these planets are firmly located in an area called the habitable zone, where liquid water is most likely to exist on a rocky planet.
This exoplanet system is called TRAPPIST-1, named for The Transiting Planets and Planetesimals Small Telescope (TRAPPIST) in Chile. In May 2016, researchers using TRAPPIST announced they had discovered three planets in the system.
Assisted by several ground-based telescopes, Spitzer confirmed the existence of two of these planets and discovered five additional ones, increasing the number of known planets in the system to seven.
This is the FIRST time three terrestrial planets have been found in the habitable zone of a star, and this is the FIRST time we have been able to measure both the masses and the radius for habitable zone Earth-sized planets.
All of these seven planets could have liquid water, key to life as we know it, under the right atmospheric conditions, but the chances are highest with the three in the habitable zone.
At about 40 light-years (235 trillion miles) from Earth, the system of planets is relatively close to us, in the constellation Aquarius. Because they are located outside of our solar system, these planets are scientifically known as exoplanets. To clarify, exoplanets are planets outside our solar system that orbit a sun-like star.
In this animation, you can see the planets orbiting the star, with the green area representing the famous habitable zone, defined as the range of distance to the star for which an Earth-like planet is the most likely to harbor abundant liquid water on its surface. Planets e, f and g fall in the habitable zone of the star.
Using Spitzer data, the team precisely measured the sizes of the seven planets and developed first estimates of the masses of six of them. The mass of the seventh and farthest exoplanet has not yet been estimated.
For comparison…if our sun was the size of a basketball, the TRAPPIST-1 star would be the size of a golf ball.
Based on their densities, all of the TRAPPIST-1 planets are likely to be rocky. Further observations will not only help determine whether they are rich in water, but also possibly reveal whether any could have liquid water on their surfaces.
The sun at the center of this system is classified as an ultra-cool dwarf and is so cool that liquid water could survive on planets orbiting very close to it, closer than is possible on planets in our solar system. All seven of the TRAPPIST-1 planetary orbits are closer to their host star than Mercury is to our sun.
The planets also are very close to each other. How close? Well, if a person was standing on one of the planet’s surface, they could gaze up and potentially see geological features or clouds of neighboring worlds, which would sometimes appear larger than the moon in Earth’s sky.
The planets may also be tidally-locked to their star, which means the same side of the planet is always facing the star, therefore each side is either perpetual day or night. This could mean they have weather patterns totally unlike those on Earth, such as strong wind blowing from the day side to the night side, and extreme temperature changes.
Because most TRAPPIST-1 planets are likely to be rocky, and they are very close to one another, scientists view the Galilean moons of Jupiter – lo, Europa, Callisto, Ganymede – as good comparisons in our solar system. All of these moons are also tidally locked to Jupiter. The TRAPPIST-1 star is only slightly wider than Jupiter, yet much warmer.
How Did the Spitzer Space Telescope Detect this System?
Spitzer, an infrared telescope that trails Earth as it orbits the sun, was well-suited for studying TRAPPIST-1 because the star glows brightest in infrared light, whose wavelengths are longer than the eye can see. Spitzer is uniquely positioned in its orbit to observe enough crossing (aka transits) of the planets in front of the host star to reveal the complex architecture of the system.
Every time a planet passes by, or transits, a star, it blocks out some light. Spitzer measured the dips in light and based on how big the dip, you can determine the size of the planet. The timing of the transits tells you how long it takes for the planet to orbit the star.
The TRAPPIST-1 system provides one of the best opportunities in the next decade to study the atmospheres around Earth-size planets. Spitzer, Hubble and Kepler will help astronomers plan for follow-up studies using our upcoming James Webb Space Telescope, launching in 2018. With much greater sensitivity, Webb will be able to detect the chemical fingerprints of water, methane, oxygen, ozone and other components of a planet’s atmosphere.
At 40 light-years away, humans won’t be visiting this system in person anytime soon…that said…this poster can help us imagine what it would be like:
Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com
More Posts from Matthewjopdyke and Others
Happy International Women’s Day!
Today we celebrate International Women’s Day, a day in which we honor and recognize the contributions of women…both on Earth and in space.
Since the beginning, women have been essential to the progression and success of America’s space program.
Throughout history, women have had to overcome struggles in the workplace. The victories for gender rights were not achieved easily or quickly, and our work is not done.
Today, we strive to make sure that our legacy of inclusion and excellence lives on.
We have a long-standing cultural commitment to excellence that is largely driven by data, including data about our people. And our data shows progress is driven by questioning our assumptions and cultural prejudices – by embracing and nurturing all talent we have available, regardless of gender, race or other protected status, to build a workforce as diverse as our mission. This is how we, as a nation, will take the next giant leap in exploration.
As a world leader in science, aeronautics, space exploration and technology, we have a diverse mission that demands talent from every corner of America, and every walk of life.
So, join us today, and every day, as we continue our legacy of inclusion and excellence.
Happy International Women’s Day!
Learn more about the inspiring woman at NASA here: https://women.nasa.gov/
Pathway to the Stars: Part 8, Dreamy & Deep is out! (eBook & Paperback!) "This is it. This is humanity stepping it up and demonstrating to the universe that we were ready to preserve life, reanimate it, and protect the Universe itself from the laws of uncontrolled chaos-rather than destroy life or watch the universe expand beyond repair." Vesha has been through a lot of training in the Virtual Universe, but soon her time will come to return to the real world. Leading to this, her dear friend, Najem Grace, has long weighed in the prospects of physiological optimization yet has stayed the hands of technology. Perhaps Vesha's outcome will help her decide; perhaps it won't. Is this the new evolution? Or are we tempting fate? Joanne Gallant, a musician with all the awards and the talent that goes with it, experiences life with deep questions. Her wonder is if there is more than this, more she can do, beyond the applause and recognition. Where is Eliza Williams, the founder of Pathway in all of this? How will she help both Najem and Joanne? Find out in this story! Dreamy & Deep, ISBN: 978-1951321086, LCCN: 2019918460 eBook: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B081XK1XN2 Paperback: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/1951321081 More info: https://www.mjopublications.com https://smile.amazon.com/author/matthewopdyke
Out Now! . Pathway to the Stars: Part 7, Span of Influence . "To be worthy to journey the stars, conditions must be such that if a group of explorers were to return home many millennia later, humanity will not have faded away into nothing. Instead, they will have preserved the homeworld and home solar system, and even improved upon the beauty, the abundance, and the ability of longevity of life in every way that is positive and possible." . ~ Eliza Williams works with her team in the Pathway organization to increase her span of influence throughout the world. Journey with Vesha Celeste as she continues her adventures with Yesha Alevtina in the Virtual Universe, understanding more fully how Eliza's team has become the enigmatic propagator of the future. With tech cities spanning the Solar System yet hidden from those who have not been read-in, humanity will be breath taken to behold them. Eliza takes on some of the biggest titans of every industry and teaches them what she believes will fuel the future -- kindness, shared-well-being, compassion, and consent, or what she coins as Universal Ethics! . Span of Influence - ISBN: 9781951321055, LCCN: 2019918436 eBook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081XHLJ36 Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1951321073 . #sciencefiction #scifi #spaceopera #fantasy #stem #astronomy #industry #wellbeing #author #matthewjopdyke #ebook #paperback #amazon https://www.instagram.com/p/B5syxGIh4Ac/?igshid=1a0lrrqlkt4kv
Now, together, Part 1, Vesha Celeste, and Part 2, Eliza Williams, have been paired together, and are available for those interested in the types of science, the directions of science, and the speculation that leads to well-being and quality of life, feel free to follow, message, and share ideas, and be a part of a positive future where, if we so choose, we can navigate the stars. This is just the beginning of this series and prequel, “Pathway to the Stars,” to a giant series, “Further than Before!” Please enjoy. https://www.amazon.com/author/matthewopdyke #sciencefiction #scifi #sciencefictionfantasy #scififantasy #politicalscifi #politicalsciencefiction #strongfemalelead #utopian #technologyidealism #neuroscience #nanotech #nanotechnology #physics #theoreticalphysics #problemresolution #apoliticalscifi #biology #CRISPR #stemcellresearch #geneticmodification https://www.instagram.com/p/BpUMW6ZgB1I/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1nhhhf9ev7vpq
Enjoy the #sciencefiction #fantasy #spaceopera #ebook #audiobook #novel series #furtherthanbefore by #Author #matthewjopdyke
With intellect, experience, perspective, kindness, and graciousness we will have the ability to gain more wisdom leading to longevity and clarity of mind. For Eliza and her crew of friends, it is a race against time to prepare humanity to meet new civilizations, preserve life, share our legacies, and go further than before! No matter the challenge, there will always be an opportunity for greater pursuits!
I hope the new year puts the light into our eyes, allows the embers of the fire to glow within our spirits, and brings clarity to our minds, willing and making good things happen that bring joy to our lives and the lives of others we meet along the way. – Matt Opdyke #scifiauthor
Just published, Pathway to the Stars: Part 3, James Cooper! Woot! http://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K2B5WS3 #future #scififantasy #architect #pathwaytothestars #strongfemalelead #strongmalerolemodel #physiology #neuroscience #physics #theoreticalphysics #biotechnology #nanotechnology #longevity #CRISPR #politicalsciencefiction #matthewopdyke https://www.instagram.com/p/BpswVbAHJ5d/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=o8byncedd7qp
Promo video put together by my wonderful spouse. Thank you, Kimmy! Join our cast of heroes as they prepare civilization to go Further than Before! #FurtherthanBefore #PathwaytotheStars #ScifiFantasy #neuroscience #physics #physiology #biotech #longevity #CRISPR #politicalscifi #strongfemalelead #strongfemalerolemodel #strongmalerolemodel #spaceopera
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I am pleased to announce a NEW RELEASE to my Space Opera series. It is now available on Amazon in ebook and paperback formats! Pathway to the Stars: Part 4, Universal Party Autographed copies of printed material are available for direct purchase on the author website at https://www.ftb-pathway-publications.com Thank you, Kim, for putting this together! #spaceopera #futurism #scifiauthor #sciencefiction #scififantasy #biotech #nanotech #neurotech #spacetravel #solarsystem #politicalscifi #strongfemalelead #entertain #educate https://www.instagram.com/p/Bur_fTyA4xP/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=15y5ce5xhxpf5
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