Discovery date May 2, 2016 | Discovery status Published | |
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TRAPPIST-1b, also designated as 2MASS J23062928-0502285 b, is an exoplanet orbiting around the ultra-cool dwarf star TRAPPIST-1, located approximately 39 light-years (12 parsecs) away in the constellation Aquarius. The planet was detected using the transit method, where a planet dims the host star's light as it passes in front of it. It was first announced on May 2, 2016.
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Habitability
During formation of the system it is possible that water loss during pre-HZ periods occurred. It is estimated that TRAPPIST-1b and TRAPPIST-1c may have lost up to fifteen Earth oceans, possibly compromising their habitability, however TRAPPIST-1d may have been able to keep enough liquid water to sustain life.
Spectrum of TRAPPIST-1 b and c
The combined transmission spectrum of TRAPPIST-1 b and c rules out a cloud-free hydrogen-dominated atmosphere for each planet, so they are unlikely to harbor an extended gas envelope. Other atmospheres, from a cloud-free water vapor atmosphere to a Venus-like atmosphere, remain consistent with the featureless spectrum.