Chapter 1: The TRAPPIST-1 System

Where might we consider moving from Earth? While TRAPPIST-1 has captured attention, it's important to understand its limitations. The entire TRAPPIST-1 system could comfortably fit within Mercury's orbit in our solar system. Given that the TRAPPIST-1 star is significantly cooler than our Sun, the conditions on its planets may resemble those of Venus, Earth, or Mars. The green zone depicted here indicates the distance from the star where temperatures could permit liquid water to exist.

NASA scientists have assessed the temperatures of various planets in the TRAPPIST-1 system, which were considered potentially habitable. This research aims to ascertain whether any of these planets possess atmospheres.

TRAPPIST-1 — a remarkable discovery in 2017 — exemplifies the diversity of planetary systems. Seven rocky planets orbit their star at distances of less than 5 million kilometers. If situated in our solar system, these planets would all fall within Mercury's orbit.

This discovery has ignited curiosity and raised questions about the habitability of TRAPPIST-1's planets. Some may argue this is an unrealistic expectation, considering that Mercury is essentially a scorched rock, suggesting little promise for the closer planets.

However, TRAPPIST-1 is a cooler star than the Sun (which has a surface temperature of approximately 5,500 degrees Celsius), with a surface temperature of merely 2,300 degrees Celsius. This cooler environment allows for the possibility of liquid water on three of its planets, which is essential for life as we know it and a key criterion for identifying a potential Earth 2.0. Nonetheless, recent studies indicate that the TRAPPIST-1 system may not fulfill these aspirations.

Chapter 2: Observations with the James Webb Space Telescope

The first video dives into the discovery of TRAPPIST-1 and its seven Earth-like planets, highlighting NASA's findings in 2017.

Utilizing the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), astronomers have been conducting observations for over a year, focusing on exoplanets. Sebastian Zieba, a postdoctoral researcher from the Max-Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelberg, Germany, and his team have set their sights on TRAPPIST-1c, the second-most-stellar planet in the system.

In a recent publication in Nature, the researchers detailed their measurements of thermal emissions, revealing a surface temperature of 107 degrees Celsius for TRAPPIST-1c. This temperature is too elevated for the planet to maintain a CO2-rich atmosphere akin to Venus.

But this is only part of the challenge: the absence of a carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere, combined with models of planet formation, suggests that TRAPPIST-1c likely had minimal water during its formation. If the other TRAPPIST planets formed under similar conditions, it raises the question of whether low-mass stars like TRAPPIST-1 are conducive to water accumulation in their protoplanetary disks.

While the other planets in the TRAPPIST system warrant further investigation, the current JWST observations provide little optimism regarding conditions that could support life.

The second video explores how long it would take to travel to TRAPPIST-1, discussing the challenges and possibilities of interstellar travel.

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