Alien skies.
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| Title: | Alien skies. |
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| Authors: | Crane, Leah (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | New Scientist. 5/23/2026, Vol. 270 Issue 3596, p36-39. 4p. 7 Color Photographs. |
| Subjects: | Extrasolar planets, Dwarf stars, Infrared astronomy, Remote sensing of the atmosphere, Stellar activity, Planetary systems |
| Abstract: | This article focuses on the TRAPPIST-1 star system, discovered about a decade ago, which hosts seven Earth-sized exoplanets orbiting an M dwarf star approximately 40 light years away. Among these, TRAPPIST-1e is considered the most promising candidate for habitability due to its temperate "Goldilocks" position and potential to retain an atmosphere, a key factor for supporting life. However, confirming the presence of an atmosphere has been challenging because of stellar activity interference and the limits of current telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Researchers are employing innovative methods, such as comparative observations with the innermost planet TRAPPIST-1b, to isolate atmospheric signals, with results expected soon. While TRAPPIST-1e remains the best-known target for studying atmospheres on rocky exoplanets around M dwarfs, ongoing surveys of similar systems aim to expand understanding despite the difficulties posed by harsh stellar environments. [Extracted from the article] |
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| Database: | Engineering Source |
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| Abstract: | This article focuses on the TRAPPIST-1 star system, discovered about a decade ago, which hosts seven Earth-sized exoplanets orbiting an M dwarf star approximately 40 light years away. Among these, TRAPPIST-1e is considered the most promising candidate for habitability due to its temperate "Goldilocks" position and potential to retain an atmosphere, a key factor for supporting life. However, confirming the presence of an atmosphere has been challenging because of stellar activity interference and the limits of current telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Researchers are employing innovative methods, such as comparative observations with the innermost planet TRAPPIST-1b, to isolate atmospheric signals, with results expected soon. While TRAPPIST-1e remains the best-known target for studying atmospheres on rocky exoplanets around M dwarfs, ongoing surveys of similar systems aim to expand understanding despite the difficulties posed by harsh stellar environments. [Extracted from the article] |
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| ISSN: | 02624079 |
