TWO HABITABLE SYSTEMS
“I tested the craziest systems using computer simulations”
TRAPPIST-1 and the Solar System have much in common, but are still quite different systems
1 TRAPPIST-1C
Too close to the star to be habitable, this planet may have a thick, swelteringly hot atmosphere like Venus.
3 TRAPPIST-1E
This is the innermost planet in TRAPPIST-1’S habitable zone and the one most likely to have Earthlike surface conditions.
5 TRAPPIST-1H
The outermost of the known TRAPPIST-1 planets, this lies beyond the habitable zone and may resemble Saturn’s icy moon Titan.
7 VENUS
At 72 per cent of Earth’s distance from the Sun, Venus is close to the Goldilocks zone’s inner boundary.
2 TRAPPIST-1D
Around 40 per cent farther out than TRAPPIST-1C, this is probably still a little short of the habitable zone.
4 TRAPPIST-1F
Right in the middle of the habitable zone, depending on its atmosphere this planet may have a lot of water.
6 MERCURY
Estimates differ for the inner edge of the habitable zone, but they all lie well outside the orbit of Mercury.
8 MARS
Estimates for the outer edge also differ; depending which you use, Mars is just inside or outside the habitable zone.