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frangi_paniljTRAPPIST-1e
Artist's impression of TRAPPIST-1e
Orbit: 6.10 days
Distance from star: 0.028 AU (times Earth's distance to the Sun)
Radius: 0.92 that of Earth
Mass: 0.62 that of Earth
What we know: Of the three planets within the habitable zone, TRAPPIST-1e is the closest to the parent star so we're leaping here inwards from the neighboring TRAPPIST-1f. It is probably tidally locked, which means one side is constantly facing the star and would be living out an endless summer, while the other side of the planet would be permanently icy and cold.
Researchers believe that if conditions are right, the two regions on a tidally locked planet in TRAPPIST-1 could be separated by a so-called Terminator zone, where the solid ice could give way to liquid water.
Scientists actually say that all of the planets in the system are probably tidally locked, but TRAPPIST-1e has the smallest radius of those in the habitable zone. This means fuel savings when vacationing to the other side, and considering the likely current state of the job market in the TRAPPIST-1 system, this could be rather handy indeed.
Artist's concept of the so-called Terminator zone
Artist's impression of TRAPPIST-1e
Orbit: 6.10 days
Distance from star: 0.028 AU (times Earth's distance to the Sun)
Radius: 0.92 that of Earth
Mass: 0.62 that of Earth
What we know: Of the three planets within the habitable zone, TRAPPIST-1e is the closest to the parent star so we're leaping here inwards from the neighboring TRAPPIST-1f. It is probably tidally locked, which means one side is constantly facing the star and would be living out an endless summer, while the other side of the planet would be permanently icy and cold.
Researchers believe that if conditions are right, the two regions on a tidally locked planet in TRAPPIST-1 could be separated by a so-called Terminator zone, where the solid ice could give way to liquid water.
Scientists actually say that all of the planets in the system are probably tidally locked, but TRAPPIST-1e has the smallest radius of those in the habitable zone. This means fuel savings when vacationing to the other side, and considering the likely current state of the job market in the TRAPPIST-1 system, this could be rather handy indeed.
Artist's concept of the so-called Terminator zone
