What have NASA discovered?
An observatory team based in Chile have located a system of planets relatively close to our own, 40 light years away.
The system, much like our own, orbits a single star, and contains seven rocky-looking planets.
Named TRAPPIST-1, after the telescope that was used to detect it, the system looks to have three planets that are in the ‘habitable zone’ – meaning they could be conducive to hosting life.
Why are scientists so excited?
This is the first time NASA have located so many planets in one system that are a: similar sizes to earth and b: that could be inhabitable by life as we know it.
Thomas Zurbuchen, who works for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate said: “Answering the question ‘are we alone’ is a top science priority and finding so many planets like these for the first time in the habitable zone is a remarkable step forward toward that goal.”0
Because the planets are rocky, sit within a ‘temperate zone’ and have the capacity for liquid water, the similarities with our own blue planet are startling.
What is the new solar system like?
In contrast to our sun, the TRAPPIST-1 star is an ultra-cool dwarf, and is so cool that liquid water could realistically exist on planets orbiting very close to it.
All of the planets are packed in a lot closer than in our own system, meaning that if you were on the surface of one, you might see the appearance of others in the sky as much larger than our moon.
In 2018, a new James Webb Space Telescope will allow astronomers to study the planet in greater detail, allowing them to detect the chemical fingerprints of water, methane, oxygen, ozone and other components of a planet’s atmosphere.
You can read the full NASA press release on this discovery here.
The NASA team are also answering questions on the discovery on Reddit this morning. Head over for your chance to ask them a question directly or see some FAQs.
