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"The Webb telescope has been built, and we have an idea how it will operate," said Lustig-Yaeger. "We used computer modeling to determine the most efficient way to use the telescope to answer the most basic question we'll want to ask, which is: Are there even atmospheres on these planets, or not?"
His paper, "The Detectability and Characterization of the TRAPPIST-1 Exoplanet Atmospheres with JWST," was published online in June in the Astronomical Journal.
The TRAPPIST-1 system, 39 light-years -- or about 235 trillion miles -- away in the constellation of Aquarius, interests astronomers because of its seven orbiting rocky, or Earth-like, planets. Three of these worlds are in the star's habitable zone -- that swath of space around a star that is just right to allow liquid water on the surface of a rocky planet, thus giving life a chance.
The star, TRAPPIST-1, was much hotter when it formed than it is now, which would have subjected all seven planets to ocean, ice and atmospheric loss in the past.
"There is a big question in the field right now whether these planets even have atmospheres, especially the innermost planets," Lustig-Yaeger said. "Once we have confirmed that there are atmospheres, then what can we learn about each planet's atmosphere -- the molecules that make it up?"
"By doing this study, we have looked at: What are the best-case scenarios for the James Webb Space Telescope? What is it going to be capable of doing? Because there are definitely going to be more Earth-sized planets found before it launches in 2021."
The research was funded by a grant from the NASA Astrobiology Program's Virtual Planetary Laboratory team, as part of the Nexus for Exoplanet System Science (NExSS) research coordination network.
Lustig-Yaeger added: "It's hard to conceive in theory of a planetary system better suited for James Webb than TRAPPIST-1."
www.sciencedaily.com...
originally posted by: InTheLight
Why don't we all just get together and clean up our mess here on planet Earth instead of looking for other habitable planets that we will most likely trash in the same way?
originally posted by: InTheLight
Why don't we all just get together and clean up our mess here on planet Earth instead of looking for other habitable planets that we will most likely trash in the same way? I would think that proof of life elsewhere in the universe would be in the form of actual off-world samples, not just guesswork.
originally posted by: schuyler
originally posted by: InTheLight
Why don't we all just get together and clean up our mess here on planet Earth instead of looking for other habitable planets that we will most likely trash in the same way? I would think that proof of life elsewhere in the universe would be in the form of actual off-world samples, not just guesswork.
Two different issues. Even if we were perfect stewards of Earth, it would eventually become uninhabitable anyway, whether it is because of processes on the Earth itself or from the Sun. The Earth is inherently unstable. Continents move. Volcanoes blow up. There's a lot more involved in "climate change" than automobile exhausts, most of which we have no control over whatsoever. As a species our "job" is to stay alive, and that means exiting this solar system for another, and another. It's built into our DNA. If you personally do not want to participate, that's fine. Just don't put roadblocks in the way of other people who are interested.
originally posted by: InTheLight
originally posted by: schuyler
originally posted by: InTheLight
Why don't we all just get together and clean up our mess here on planet Earth instead of looking for other habitable planets that we will most likely trash in the same way? I would think that proof of life elsewhere in the universe would be in the form of actual off-world samples, not just guesswork.
Two different issues. Even if we were perfect stewards of Earth, it would eventually become uninhabitable anyway, whether it is because of processes on the Earth itself or from the Sun. The Earth is inherently unstable. Continents move. Volcanoes blow up. There's a lot more involved in "climate change" than automobile exhausts, most of which we have no control over whatsoever. As a species our "job" is to stay alive, and that means exiting this solar system for another, and another. It's built into our DNA. If you personally do not want to participate, that's fine. Just don't put roadblocks in the way of other people who are interested.
The instability you speak of won't happen for many eons yet, so your argument at this time does not apply to us. Unless you mean climate change is creating the instability that may threaten our survival, then if that is your argument then my request stands, even moreso. The only roadblock I put out so far is to ask all of us to become good stewards of the Earth first, instead of putting false hope in finding a new planet we can call home any time soon - if at all. But, hey, they can look all they want...in the meantime we have a home that needs TLC. Priorities.
originally posted by: gortex
The TRAPPIST-1 system first caught our imagination in 2016 when it was discovered the star located just 39 light-years away was host to 3 planets that on further investigation were found to be rocky planets capable of retaining water at their surface , subsequent investigations discovered the system actually contained seven planets with three safely within the star's habitable zone.
At just 39 light-years away TRAPPIST-1 is a tantalising early target for the James Webb Space Telescope to home in on and possibly find the first indications for life on an Alien world from studying the atmospheres of the planets with the new tools it provides.
originally posted by: schuyler
originally posted by: InTheLight
originally posted by: schuyler
originally posted by: InTheLight
Why don't we all just get together and clean up our mess here on planet Earth instead of looking for other habitable planets that we will most likely trash in the same way? I would think that proof of life elsewhere in the universe would be in the form of actual off-world samples, not just guesswork.
Two different issues. Even if we were perfect stewards of Earth, it would eventually become uninhabitable anyway, whether it is because of processes on the Earth itself or from the Sun. The Earth is inherently unstable. Continents move. Volcanoes blow up. There's a lot more involved in "climate change" than automobile exhausts, most of which we have no control over whatsoever. As a species our "job" is to stay alive, and that means exiting this solar system for another, and another. It's built into our DNA. If you personally do not want to participate, that's fine. Just don't put roadblocks in the way of other people who are interested.
The instability you speak of won't happen for many eons yet, so your argument at this time does not apply to us. Unless you mean climate change is creating the instability that may threaten our survival, then if that is your argument then my request stands, even moreso. The only roadblock I put out so far is to ask all of us to become good stewards of the Earth first, instead of putting false hope in finding a new planet we can call home any time soon - if at all. But, hey, they can look all they want...in the meantime we have a home that needs TLC. Priorities.
Negative. How do you know? And in any case, the time to put this in place is when Earth is stable, not after it goes crazy on us. You're assuming we have any control over Earth at all, which is a rather arrogant assumption. There will inevitably be an extinction level event, which could happen tomorrow with a simple asteroid strike. We don't have the luxury to wait for "eons" for the sun to go nova. The ONLY way to assure our survival as a species with civilization is to become an interplanetary species, and then to reach for the stars. Sure, "become good stewards" and all that. No one would disagree with you, but meanwhile we need to get our act together right now to get the hell out of here. The goals are not mutually exclusive. If you prefer to concentrate on what you want to happen, by all means do so. I'm just saying to not stand in our way if some of us have different priorities.