The presence of an atmosphere over sufficiently long timescales is widely regarded as one of the most prominent criteria associated with planetary surface habitability. We address the crucial question as […]
TRAPPIST-1
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Press Release, TRAPPIST-1
Observations of TRAPPIST-1 Exoplanetary System Fosters a New Biomarker
The recent discovery of seven potentially habitable Earth-size planets around the ultra-cool star TRAPPIST-1 has further fueled the hunt for extraterrestrial life. Current methods focus on closely monitoring the host […]
Posted inExoplanets, -moons, -comets, Press Release, TRAPPIST-1
Updated Masses for the TRAPPIST-1 Planets
The newly detected TRAPPIST-1 system, with seven low-mass, roughly Earth-sized planets transiting a nearby ultra-cool dwarf, is one of the most important exoplanet discoveries to date. The short baseline of […]
Posted inHabitable Zones, Press Release, TRAPPIST-1
Limits on the Stability of TRAPPIST-1
TRAPPIST-1 is a late M-dwarf orbited by seven Earth-sized planets with orbital period ratios near a chain of mean motion resonances. Due to uncertain system parameters, most orbital configurations drawn […]
Posted inPanspermia, Press Release, TRAPPIST-1
Fast Litho-panspermia in the Habitable Zone of the TRAPPIST-1 System
With several short-period, Earth-mass planets in the habitable zone, the TRAPPIST-1 system potentially allows litho-panspermia to take place on very short timescales. We investigate the efficiency and speed of inter-planetary […]
Posted inHabitable Zones, Press Release, TRAPPIST-1
Frequent Flaring in the TRAPPIST-1 system – Unsuited For Life?
We analyze short cadence K2 light curve of the TRAPPIST-1 system. Fourier analysis of the data suggests Prot=3.295±0.003 days. The light curve shows several flares, of which we analyzed 42 […]
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Press Release, TRAPPIST-1
Inventing Tools for Detecting Life Elsewhere with Future Telescopes
Recently, astronomers announced the discovery that a star called TRAPPIST-1 is orbited by seven Earth-size planets. Three of the planets reside in the “habitable zone,” the region around a star […]
Posted inExoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Press Release, TRAPPIST-1
UV Surface Habitability of the TRAPPIST-1 System
With the discovery of rocky planets in the temperate habitable zone (HZ) of the close-by cool star TRAPPIST-1 the question of whether such planets could also harbour life arises. Potentially […]
Posted inExoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Press Release, TRAPPIST-1
Spitzer Telescope Telescope Reveals Largest Batch of Earth-Size, Habitable-Zone Planets Around Single Star
NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope has revealed the first known system of seven Earth-size planets around a single star. Three of these planets are firmly located in the habitable zone, the […]