At least tens of thousands (probably more) viewers are watching the live news conference right now during which scientists announced the discovery of seven Earth-sized planets around the same star.
TRAPPIST-1 is an ultra-cool red dwarf a little bit bigger than Jupiter, forty light-years away in the constellation Aquarius. This star has such a low surface temperature than even planets very close to it retain liquid water. All seven of the planets orbit TRAPPIST-1 closer than Mercury orbits the Sun.
Making the announcement are...
Sean Carey, Spitzer Science Center Manager
Michael Gillon, University of Liege astronomer
Nikole Lewis, Space Telescope Science Institute astronomer
Sara Seager, MIT physics professor
Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA Science Mission Directorate Associate Administrator
More information:
https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa ... ets-around
TRAPPIST-1 System
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Christopher K.
- Posts: 6440
- Joined: October 12th, 2009, 3:28 pm
- Location: Baton Rouge, LA
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Christopher K.
- Posts: 6440
- Joined: October 12th, 2009, 3:28 pm
- Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Re: TRAPPIST-1 System
Will it be possible one day to take trips to other star system? Until we find out, here's a poster to foster your excitement...
https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/internal_resources/479/
As as alternative to standard Summer Camp, Highland Road Park Observatory is researching the possibility of offering remote ninety-minute modules. If the idea gains traction, one such module will be "Exoplanets". Campers will learn about planets outside our Solar System and how we detect their existence. They will constuct their own exoplanet based on parameters such as mass and distance from the parent star. HRPO personnel will briefly touch upon the possible of life elsewhere in the Galaxy. This module would be offered Mondays at 1pm and 3pm. Specific weeks of offerings, age ranges, prices and registration procedure will be found at...
http://hrpo.lsu.edu/programs/camp.html
https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/internal_resources/479/
As as alternative to standard Summer Camp, Highland Road Park Observatory is researching the possibility of offering remote ninety-minute modules. If the idea gains traction, one such module will be "Exoplanets". Campers will learn about planets outside our Solar System and how we detect their existence. They will constuct their own exoplanet based on parameters such as mass and distance from the parent star. HRPO personnel will briefly touch upon the possible of life elsewhere in the Galaxy. This module would be offered Mondays at 1pm and 3pm. Specific weeks of offerings, age ranges, prices and registration procedure will be found at...
http://hrpo.lsu.edu/programs/camp.html