TRAPPIST-1 now has seven planets. (Possible life?)

[_Augustus_]

TOTM March 2017!

NASA recently announced that TRAPPIST-1 now has 7 planets, 3 of which are habitable.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRAPPIST-1

Edited August 11, 2017 by _Augustus_

[Spaceception]

1 hour ago, _Augustus_ said:

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-to-host-news-conference-on-discovery-beyond-our-solar-system

Something about more habitable exoplanets.

We sure they're not trying to outdo Prox b?

[_Augustus_]

2 hours ago, Spaceception said:

We sure they're not trying to outdo Prox b?

Media says they are.

[munlander1]

Just now, _Augustus_ said:

Media says they are.

They say a lot of things though.

[kerbiloid]

We should prepare to update

Spoiler

 

 

[razark]

NASA: We're going to release some information.

Media/Public: NASA IS GOING TO ANNOUNCE THEY FOUND ALIENS OR SOMETHING!!!

NASA: <Minor scientific detail that only really affects 0.001% of researchers, but does so in a fundamental way.>

Small Group of Researchers: YAY!  WOW!  This changes everything we're working on!

Media/Public: So, where's the aliens?  Why doesn't NASA ever say anything useful?

Edited February 21, 2017 by razark

[DDE]

[Spaceception]

Can you imagine if it was though?

They're talking about TRAPPIST1!

[klesh]

40 light years away, we need to get better at going places.

[Wjolcz]

 

[Spaceception]

Info on the system http://www.trappist.one/#system

[Spaceception]

On 2/20/2017 at 6:45 PM, Spaceception said:

We sure they're not trying to outdo Prox b?

I think they outdid Prox b

[KerikBalm]

red dwarf.... most output is in the IR... limited potential for photosynthesis, low luminosity for its mass: high chance of tidal locking....

A very interesting system, but I don't think there will be any alien civilization there.

Alien microbes? perhaps

[Green Baron]

Hi guys,

something to read.

http://www.nature.com/news/these-seven-alien-worlds-could-help-explain-how-planets-form-1.21512

Nope, no aliens but could tell a little more about planet forming. Am still reading.

Edit: the paper: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v542/n7642/full/nature21360.html

'nother edit: oops, thanks for merging. I wasn't aware that it is already covered in here :-)

Edited February 22, 2017 by Green Baron

[Spaceception]

Could the planets rotate from resonance effects? @ProtoJeb21 You might be the best person to answer this question.

Edited February 22, 2017 by Spaceception
! MEANT ROTATE!!!

[Wjolcz]

Since they are tidally locked the magnetospheres would be rather weak, wouldn't they? Unless resonance somehow keeps their cores active?

[Spaceception]

Just now, Veeltch said:

Since they are tidally locked the magnetospheres would be rather weak, wouldn't they? Unless resonance somehow keeps their cores active?

Orbiting that close? Probably. I don't have US2 on this laptop, so I can't check, but I'm pretty sure they're only separated by a few Earth-Moon distances at their closest approaches.

[_Augustus_]

14 minutes ago, Spaceception said:

Could the planets rotate from resonance effects? @ProtoJeb21 You might be the best person to answer this question.

If they had an orbital eccentricity above 0.05 or so there would be areas near the terminator that experienced nights and days.

I gave planet D an orbital eccentricity around 0.17 in SpaceEngine and waited for a nice lineup.

Here's a shot taken around a week from now of what the sky would look like assuming D has this orbital eccentricity. This is right at dawn around latitude 40.

All seven planets are in this shot, taken from the surface of D.

Edited February 22, 2017 by _Augustus_

[Spaceception]

2 minutes ago, _Augustus_ said:

If they had an orbital eccentricity above 0.05 or so there would be areas near the terminator that experienced nights and days.

I gave planet D an orbital eccentricity around 0.17 and waited for a nice lineup.

Here's a shot taken around a week from now of what the sky would look like assuming D has this orbital eccentricity. This is right at dawn around latitude 40.

1

 

That with Space engine? It looks amazing.

Also, you work fast, either that or planet editor is easier to use than I thought (I still haven't gotten SE )

Edited February 22, 2017 by Spaceception

[_Augustus_]

Just now, Spaceception said:

That with Space engine? It looks amazing.

Also, you work fast, either that or planet editor is easier to use than I thought (I still haven't gotten SE )

SpaceEngine.

I started writing configs for the system the moment all orbital stats were available.

Edited February 22, 2017 by _Augustus_

[Mitchz95]

Seven rocky planets, all roughly the same size, all within spitting distance of one another, and three of which are in the habitable zone?

Sounds like the kind of place where an interplanetary civilization would thrive.

[Shpaget]

Imagine intelligent life developing independently on multiple of them and roughly at the same pace. With other planets so prominent in the sky they could not help but wonder about the possibility about life there as well and sooner or later would come in contact, first radio, then physical.

 

[Spaceception]

Just now, Mitchz95 said:

Seven rocky planets, all roughly the same size, all within spitting distance of one another, and three of which are in the habitable zone?

Sounds like the kind of place where an interplanetary civilization would thrive.

 

I'm already thinking about a book series.

ALIENS!

[kerbiloid]

15 minutes ago, Mitchz95 said:

Seven rocky planets, all roughly the same size, all within spitting distance of one another, and three of which are in the habitable zone?

Where have I seen this before?..

Frontier: Elite 2!

[razark]

46 minutes ago, Mitchz95 said:

Seven rocky planets, all roughly the same size, all within spitting distance of one another, and three of which are in the habitable zone?

 

45 minutes ago, Shpaget said:

Imagine intelligent life developing independently on multiple of them and roughly at the same pace. With other planets so prominent in the sky they could not help but wonder about the possibility about life there as well and sooner or later would come in contact, first radio, then physical.

Question came up with a co-worker.  Based on how close these three planets are, at what technology level would they be able to determine:

A) The existence of life on one or both of the others;

and

B) The presence of an intelligent civilization on the others?