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TRAPPIST-1 System Compared with Mercury Orbit (Artist’s Illustration)
The TRAPPIST-1 system, consisting of several known Earth-sized planets orbiting a red dwarf star, would fit deep inside the orbit of the sun's innermost planet, Mercury.
About the Object
- R.A. PositionR.A. PositionRight ascension – analogous to longitude – is one component of an object's position.23h 6m 29.28s
- Dec. PositionDec. PositionDeclination – analogous to latitude – is one component of an object's position.-05° 02' 28.59"
- ConstellationConstellationOne of 88 recognized regions of the celestial sphere in which the object appears.Aquarius
- DistanceDistanceThe physical distance from Earth to the astronomical object. Distances within our solar system are usually measured in Astronomical Units (AU). Distances between stars are usually measured in light-years. Interstellar distances can also be measured in parsecs.39 light-years (12 parsecs)
About the Data
- Data DescriptionData DescriptionProposal: A description of the observations, their scientific justification, and the links to the data available in the science archive.
Science Team: The astronomers who planned the observations and analyzed the data. "PI" refers to the Principal Investigator.Data were provided by the HST proposal 14500: 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). - InstrumentInstrumentThe science instrument used to produce the data.WFC3/IR
- Exposure DatesExposure DatesThe date(s) that the telescope made its observations and the total exposure time.May 4, 2016
- Object NameObject NameA name or catalog number that astronomers use to identify an astronomical object.TRAPPIST-1, 2MASS J23062928-0502285
- Object DescriptionObject DescriptionThe type of astronomical object.Exoplanet System
- Release DateJuly 20, 2016
- Science ReleaseNASA’s Hubble Telescope Makes First Atmospheric Study of Earth-Sized Exoplanets
- Credits
Related Images & Videos
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...
Animation of Two Earth-Sized Worlds Transiting Red Dwarf Star
This animation shows two Earth-sized planets passing in front of their parent red dwarf star. The Hubble Space Telescope was used to spectroscopically search for evidence of extended atmospheres around these planets, but no evidence was found. This leaves open the possibility...
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Last Updated
Mar 03, 2025
Contact
Media
Claire Andreoli
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
claire.andreoli@nasa.gov
