New solar system spurs hunt for life

Trappist-1 is being hailed as an accelerated leap forward

Life may have evolved on at least three planets within a newly discovered solar system that is 39 light years from Earth, scientists say.

The new Trappist-1 system contains an unprecedented number of Earth-sized, probably rocky planets, and is being hailed as an “accelerated leap forward” in the search for extraterrestrial life.

Three of the new planets are said to be particularly promising because they could sustain oceans. Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator of Nasa’s Science Mission Directorate, said in Washington: “This gives us a hint that finding a second Earth is not a matter of ‘if’, but ‘when’.”

Prof Sara Seager, an expert in planetary science and physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said: “In this planetary system, Goldilocks has many sisters. We have made a giant accelerated leap forward in the search for habitable worlds and life in other worlds,” she said.

Discovery made by which produces heatimages from celestia

AGE OF AQUARIUS TRAPPIST-1 star system is located in Aquarius constellation

Seven planets circle Trappist-1, with orb ranging from 1 to 20 days. If Trappist-1 we sun, all these planets would fit inside the Mercury. That’s how close they are to their why their orbits are so short. The planets real names. They’re only known by letter through “h.” The letter “A” refers to the s