Hubble image archive
Artist's View of Planets Transiting Red Dwarf Star in TRAPPIST-1 System
This illustration shows two Earth-sized worlds passing in front of their parent red dwarf star, which is much smaller and cooler than our sun. The planets, TRAPPIST-1b and TRAPPIST-1c, reside 40 light-years away. They are between 20 and 100 times closer to their star than Earth i...
- Date
- Jan 1, 2016
- Mission
- Hubble Space Telescope
- Archive ID
- hubblesite-images-2016-27-3774-image
This illustration shows two Earth-sized worlds passing in front of their parent red dwarf star, which is much smaller and cooler than our sun. The planets, TRAPPIST-1b and TRAPPIST-1c, reside 40 light-years away. They are between 20 and 100 times closer to their star than Earth is to the sun. Researchers think that at least one of the planets, and possibly both, may be within the star's habitable zone, where moderate temperatures could allow for liquid water on the surface. Hubble looked for evidence of extended atmospheres around both planets and didn't find anything. This leaves open the possibility the planets have thinner, denser atmospheres like Earth's.
Credits
Illustration: NASA, ESA, and G. Bacon (STScI);Science: NASA, ESA, and J. de Wit (MIT)
Image Details
| About The Object | |
|---|---|
| Object Name | Trappist-1 System, TRAPPIST-1, 2MASS J23062928-0502285 |
| Object Description | Exoplanet System |
| R.A. Position | 23h 6m 29.27s |
| Dec. Position | -5° 2' 28.59" |
| Constellation | Aquarius |
| Distance | 39 light-years (12 parsecs) |
| About The Data | |
| Data Description | Data were provided by the HST proposal : J. de Wit (MIT), M. Gillon and A. Burdanov (University of Liège, Belgium), A. Burgasser (UCSD), L. Delrez (University of Liège, Belgium), B.-O. Demory (U. Cambridge), E. Jehin (University of Liège, Belgium), S. Lederer (NASA/Johnson Space Center), N. Lewis (STScI), P. Magain (University of Liège, Belgium), and D. Queloz and A. Triaud (U. Cambridge). The science team also includes: V. Van Grootel (University of Liège, Belgium), C. Opitom (University of Liège, Belgium), D. Sahu (Indian Institute of Astrophysics), and D. Gagliuffi (UCSD). |
| Instrument | HST>WFC3/IR |
| Exposure Dates | May 4, 2016 |
| Filters | Gratings: G141 grism |
Downloads
Source
Image and source material are credited to the official mission archive linked below.
View on NASA.gov