Last month , the solar systemlost its collective chillwhen NASA declare the discovery of a seven - planet system ring TRAPPIST-1 , just 39 light-headed - eld from our Sun . The system is specially exciting , not only because of its proximity to our planet , but because it has three planets within the habitable geographical zone , where liquid piddle ( and potentially life ) could be plump for . There ’s already awebsitededicated to these mysterious planets , fill with arresting art andliteral fan fable . In short , TRAPPIST-1 is already getting the One Direction discussion .
But amid our justifiable TRAPPIST-1 freakout , one major question persist : What does it front like ? Remember , these planet have only been discover using thetransit method , in which scientist measure dips in a champion ’s light output as a erratic body crosses in front from our line of pile . While we have some passably incredible conception artistry that imagines what these planets could look like , the the true is , we have no melodic theme — until now . Sort of .
On Wednesday , March 8th , NASAfinally releasedits first - ever glance at the TRAPPIST-1 organisation . BEHOLD :
While this is n’t the grand reveal we might have been hoping for , it ’s a footfall toward learning more about a very tantalizing system . In gain to this movie , NASA has releasedall the raw , uncalibrated datafor observations of TRAPPIST-1 . The information were hoard over 74 day — from December 15th , 2016 to March quaternary — byNASA ’s Kepler spacecraft , as part of the ongoing K2 mission . Kepler quantify the dimming of TRAPPIST-1 ’s sensation as its seven Earth - sized planet glide by in front of it , blocking some of its luminosity . That ’s what ’s causing pixels to flicker in the image above .
Through Kepler ’s observations , scientists hope to better nail down the TRAPPIST-1 major planet ’ orbital periods , and the dynamics of the emcee star .
“ scientist and enthusiasts around the world are invested in learning everything they can about these ground - size of it earthly concern , ” K2 inquiry scientist at NASA ’s Ames Research Center Geert Barentsensaid in a instruction . “ Providing the K2 raw data point as quickly as possible was a precedence to give investigators an former looking so they could well define their travel along - up research plan . We ’re thrilled that this will also allow the populace to witness the process of discovery . ”
NASA bear thefully calibrate datato be quick by May . Citizen scientists , assemble !
[ NASA , NASA ]
EarthNASAScienceSpace
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