TRAPPIST-1 planetary system. Computer illustration comparing the known properties of the seven TRAPPIST-1 exoplanets (labelled b through h) to the inner rocky planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars) of our own solar system. TRAPPIST-1 is an ultra-cool red dwarf star. It is slightly larger but much more massive than the planet Jupiter and lies around 39.6 light-years from the Sun, in the constellation Aquarius. The planetary system consists of 7 terrestrial planets that orbit very close to their star - a larger number than detected in any other planetary system. All are thought to be rocky and some could contain significant amounts of water. The system was named after the TRAPPIST (TRAnsiting Planets and PlanetesImals Small Telescope) telescope that was used to study it, along with NASA's Spitzer and Kepler space telescopes. | |
Lizenzart: | Lizenzpflichtig |
Credit: | Science Photo Library / NASA |
Bildgröße: | 4674 px × 3739 px |
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