• Key Information

  • TRAPPIST-1

  • Type
    Star
  • Diameter
    103,000 miles
  • Mass
    0.08 solar masses
  • Orbit Time
    7 hours 45 minutes
  • Temperature
    4,100 °F
  • Distance from Earth
    40.7 light years
  • Star Type(s)
    M8V
  • Date of Discovery
    2000
  • Learning Point
  • Discovered in 2000, TRAPPIST-1 is a M class red dwarf star that is cooler than normal, but the home to at least 7 planets, some of which are warm enough to have liquid water on them.
  • Red dwarf stars are cooler than ours, and though they live a lot longer than brighter stars, are not well suited to supporting life.
  • Project
  • Draw what it would like to be on one of the planets of TRAPPIST-1.
  • Location
  • Located in
    Aquarius constellation
  • Fun Facts
  • TRAPPIST-1 is thought to be as old as 7 and a half billion years old.
  • The whole star system and planets would sit inside the orbit of Mercury.
  • The light on these planets would seem like a constant sunset, and would not be very bright.
  • All the known planets orbit in less than 20 days, and none of them seem to have moons around them.