Seven temperate terrestrial planets around the nearby ultracool dwarf star TRAPPIST-1 - Nature

One aim of modern astronomy is to detect temperate, Earth-like exoplanets that are well suited for atmospheric characterization. Recently, three Earth-sized planets were detected that transit (that is, pass in front of) a star with a mass just eight per cent that of the Sun, located 12 parsecs away1. The transiting configuration of these planets, combined with the Jupiter-like size of their host star—named TRAPPIST-1—makes possible in-depth studies of their atmospheric properties with present-day and future astronomical facilities1,2,3. Here we report the results of a photometric monitoring campaign of that star from the ground and space. Our observations reveal that at least seven planets with sizes and masses similar to those of Earth revolve around TRAPPIST-1. The six inner planets form a near-resonant chain, such that their orbital periods (1.51, 2.42, 4.04, 6.06, 9.1 and 12.35 days) are near-ratios of small integers. This architecture suggests that the planets formed farther from the star and migrated inwards4,5. Moreover, the seven planets have equilibrium temperatures low enough to make possible the presence of liquid water on their surfaces6,7,8.

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Space Sciences, Technologies and Astrophysics Research (STAR) Institute, Université de Liège, Allée du 6 Août 19C, Bat. B5C, Liège, 4000, BelgiumMichaël Gillon, Emmanuël Jehin, Artem Burdanov, Laetitia Delrez, Catarina S. Fernandes, Valérie Van Grootel & Pierre Magain

Space Sciences, Technologies and Astrophysics Research (STAR) Institute, Université de Liège, Allée du 6 Août 19C, Bat. B5C, Liège, 4000, Belgium

Michaël Gillon, Emmanuël Jehin, Artem Burdanov, Laetitia Delrez, Catarina S. Fernandes, Valérie Van Grootel & Pierre Magain

Institute of Astronomy, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0HA, UKAmaury H. M. J. Triaud

Institute of Astronomy, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0HA, UK

Amaury H. M. J. Triaud

University of Bern, Center for Space and Habitability, Sidlerstrasse 5, Bern, CH-3012, SwitzerlandBrice-Olivier Demory

University of Bern, Center for Space and Habitability, Sidlerstrasse 5, Bern, CH-3012, Switzerland

Cavendish Laboratory, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UKBrice-Olivier Demory, Laetitia Delrez & Didier Queloz

Cavendish Laboratory, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK

Brice-Olivier Demory, Laetitia Delrez & Didier Queloz

Astronomy Department, University of Washington, Seattle, 98195, Washington, USAEric Agol

Astronomy Department, University of Washington, Seattle, 98195, Washington, USA

NASA Astrobiology Institute’s Virtual Planetary Laboratory, Seattle, 98195, Washington, USAEric Agol

NASA Astrobiology Institute’s Virtual Planetary Laboratory, Seattle, 98195, Washington, USA

Department of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, 91125, California, USAKatherine M. Deck

Department of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, 91125, California, USA

NASA Johnson Space Center, 2101 NASA Parkway, Houston, 77058, Texas, USASusan M. Lederer

NASA Johnson Space Center, 2101 NASA Parkway, Houston, 77058, Texas, USA

Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, 02139, Massachusetts, USAJulien de Wit

Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, 02139, Massachusetts, USA

Spitzer Science Center, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E California Boulevard, Mail Code 314-6, Pasadena, 91125, California, USAJames G. Ingalls & Sean J. Carey

Spitzer Science Center, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E California Boulevard, Mail Code 314-6, Pasadena, 91125, California, USA

James G. Ingalls & Sean J. Carey

Department of Mathematics, NaXys, University of Namur, 8 Rempart de la Vierge, Namur, 5000, BelgiumEmeline Bolmont

Department of Mathematics, NaXys, University of Namur, 8 Rempart de la Vierge, Namur, 5000, Belgium

Laboratoire AIM Paris-Saclay, CEA/DRF–CNRS–Univ. Paris Diderot - IRFU/SAp, Centre de Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, F- 91191, Cedex, FranceEmeline Bolmont

Laboratoire AIM Paris-Saclay, CEA/DRF–CNRS–Univ. Paris Diderot - IRFU/SAp, Centre de Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, F- 91191, Cedex, France

Laboratoire d'astrophysique de Bordeaux, Université Bordeaux, CNRS, B18N, Allée Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, Pessac, F-33615, FranceJeremy Leconte, Sean N. Raymond & Franck Selsis

Laboratoire d'astrophysique de Bordeaux, Université Bordeaux, CNRS, B18N, Allée Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, Pessac, F-33615, France

Jeremy Leconte, Sean N. Raymond & Franck Selsis

Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, 4 Place Jussieu, Paris, 75005, FranceMartin Turbet

Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, 4 Place Jussieu, Paris, 75005, France

Laboratoire LPHEA, Oukaimeden Observatory, Cadi Ayyad University/FSSM, Marrakesh, BP 2390, MoroccoKhalid Barkaoui & Zouhair Benkhaldoun

Laboratoire LPHEA, Oukaimeden Observatory, Cadi Ayyad University/FSSM, Marrakesh, BP 2390, Morocco

Khalid Barkaoui & Zouhair Benkhaldoun

Center for Astrophysics and Space Science, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, 92093, California, USAAdam Burgasser

Center for Astrophysics and Space Science, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, 92093, California, USA

Department of Physics and Astronomy, Leicester Institute for Space and Earth Observation, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UKMatthew R. Burleigh & Aleksander Chaushev

Department of Physics and Astronomy, Leicester Institute for Space and Earth Observation, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK

Matthew R. Burleigh & Aleksander Chaushev

Astrophysics Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, L3 5RF, UKChris M. Copperwheat

Astrophysics Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, L3 5RF, UK

Jeremiah Horrocks Institute, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE, UKDaniel L. Holdsworth

Jeremiah Horrocks Institute, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE, UK

South African Astronomical Observatory, PO Box 9, Observatory, 7935, South AfricaEnrico J. Kotze

South African Astronomical Observatory, PO Box 9, Observatory, 7935, South Africa

Space and Astronomy Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi ArabiaYaseen Almleaky

Space and Astronomy Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia

King Abdullah Centre for Crescent Observations and Astronomy, Makkah Clock, Mecca, 24231, Saudi ArabiaYaseen Almleaky

King Abdullah Centre for Crescent Observations and Astronomy, Makkah Clock, Mecca, 24231, Saudi Arabia

Observatoire de Genève, Université de Genève, 51 chemin des Maillettes, CH-1290 Sauverny, SwitzerlandDidier Queloz

Observatoire de Genève, Université de Genève, 51 chemin des Maillettes, CH-1290 Sauverny, Switzerland

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