This artist's concept shows what the TRAPPIST-1 planetary system may look like, based on available data about the planets' diameters, masses and distances from the host star, as of February 2018. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

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. There is the possibility that future study of this unique planetary system could reveal conditions suitable for life.

In February 2018, closer study of the seven planets suggested that some could harbor far more water than the oceans of Earth, in the form of atmospheric water vapor for the planets closest to their star, liquid water for others, and ice for those farthest away. The new study pinned down the density of each planet more precisely, making TRAPPIST-1 the most thoroughly known planetary system apart from our own.

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Exoplanet surface in 360 VR

Use your mouse or fingertip to experience a 360 view. On mobile, move your phone to see sky, ground and horizon. This is an artist's interpretation.

An artist's illustration of TRAPPIST-1d takes you to the surface of the third planet from the red TRAPPIST-1 star. From here, the star looms larger than our sun and its light casts a red glow across the sky. Look up, and you may catch a glimpse of its six sister planets, as visible as our moon is from Earth. View on YouTube

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. Its sister planets gracefully light up the sky, promising another adventure just a hop away.

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Interact with the TRAPPIST-1 system in 3D

You can fly through the TRAPPIST-1 planets and see an artist's concept of the surfaces on your phone or with a desktop app. Compare each planet to Earth or Jupiter, compare the TRAPPIST-1 system to our solar system, and see how far the habitable zone extends.

On mobile: TRAPPIST-1 system in 3D With the touch of a screen or the click of a mouse, you can visit the newly discovered TRAPPIST-1 system in the our exoplanet atlas. The New Worlds Atlas contains every exoplanet discovery, powered by NASA's Exoplanet Archive, the official database used by professional astronomers engaged in exploring new worlds.

Desktop app: Eyes on Exoplanets Get set for launch. Download “Eyes on Exoplanets” and it will fly you to any planet you wish—as long as it's far beyond our solar system. This fully rendered 3D universe is scientifically accurate, allowing you to zoom in for a close look at more than 1,000 exotic planets known to orbit distant stars, including the TRAPPIST-1 system. The program is updated daily with the latest finds from NASA and ground-based observatories around the world.

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Images from 2017

Trappist-1 system Spitzer findings Before and after the discovery of four new planets Full resolution

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Panelists from the 2017 news conference

Michael Gillon

Title: Research Associate at the Belgian Fund for Scientific Research (F.R.S.-FNRS)

Institution: University of Liège, Belgium

Role in TRAPPIST-1 discovery: Initiator and lead.

Other missions/topics worked on: The detection and characterization of transiting exoplanets. PI of the projects TRAPPIST and SPECULOOS. PI of many Spitzer and ESO programs, and Co-I of the CoRoT and CHEOPS exoplanet space missions.

Sean Carey

Title: Manager, Spitzer Science Center

Institution: IPAC/Caltech.

Role in TRAPPIST-1 discovery: Co-author of paper.

Other missions/topics worked on: Spitzer, NEOCam and WFIRST. Additional scientific work includes the physics of the interstellar medium and studying the galactic distribution of planets via microlensing.

Thomas Zurbuchen

Title: NASA Associate Adminstrator, Science Mission Directorate

Institution: NASA, Washington, D.C.

Other missions/topics worked on: Please see Dr. Zurbuchen’s biographical page.

Sara Seager

Title: Professor of Planetary Science, Professor of Physics

Institution: MIT

Other missions/topics worked on: TESS Deputy Science Director. PI ASTERIA. Expert in biosignature gases in the search for life on exoplanets.

Nikole Lewis

Title: Assistant Astronomer/James Webb Space Telescope Project Scientist

Institution: Space Telescope Science Institute

Role in TRAPPIST-1 discovery: I co-lead the investigation of the TRAPPIST-1 planets with Hubble’s Wide-Field Camera 3 (WFC3) instrument.

Other missions/topics worked on: Specializes in understanding circulation and cloud/haze formation in exoplanet atmospheres. Currently a Deputy-PI of a WFIRST Coronagraphic Instrument (CGI) Science Investigation Team (SIT), the JWST Project Scientist at STScI, and part of a team (PI Sarah Horst, JHU) creating exoplanet hazes in the lab.

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