09-01-2017, 05:53 PM
"Hubble delivers first hints of possible water content of TRAPPIST-1 planets."
As some of you might remember, the TRAPPIST-1 system is so far unique in that it contains seven Earth-sized planets of which three lie in the habitable zone, i.e., the conditions there are likely suitable for liquid water which might mean they're habitable.
A recent study, which involved observations from UKIRT on MK, claims:
The inner planets could have lost more than 20 Earth-oceans-worth of water during the last eight billion years. However, the outer planets of the system – including the planets e, f and g which are in the habitable zone – should have lost much less water, suggesting that they could have retained some on their surfaces [3]. The calculated water loss rates as well as geophysical water release rates also favour the idea that the outermost, more massive planets retain their water. However, with the currently available data and telescopes no final conclusion can be drawn on the water content of the planets orbiting TRAPPIST-1.
http://sci.esa.int/hubble/59451-hubble-d...-heic1713/
As I write this, both UKIRT and the CFHT (also on Mauna Kea) are simultaneously observing a transit of the outermost planet in the system. Winds are high, which is making things a little tricky, but the sky is clear!
As some of you might remember, the TRAPPIST-1 system is so far unique in that it contains seven Earth-sized planets of which three lie in the habitable zone, i.e., the conditions there are likely suitable for liquid water which might mean they're habitable.
A recent study, which involved observations from UKIRT on MK, claims:
The inner planets could have lost more than 20 Earth-oceans-worth of water during the last eight billion years. However, the outer planets of the system – including the planets e, f and g which are in the habitable zone – should have lost much less water, suggesting that they could have retained some on their surfaces [3]. The calculated water loss rates as well as geophysical water release rates also favour the idea that the outermost, more massive planets retain their water. However, with the currently available data and telescopes no final conclusion can be drawn on the water content of the planets orbiting TRAPPIST-1.
http://sci.esa.int/hubble/59451-hubble-d...-heic1713/
As I write this, both UKIRT and the CFHT (also on Mauna Kea) are simultaneously observing a transit of the outermost planet in the system. Winds are high, which is making things a little tricky, but the sky is clear!