Last year, further observations showed that there are at least seven planets in the system, each roughly the same size as the Earth. The measurements of the densities, when combined with models of the planets' compositions, strongly suggest that the seven TRAPPIST-1 planets are not barren rocky worlds, researchers said. They seem to contain significant amounts of volatile material, probably water, amounting to up to five per cent the planet's mass in some cases. By comparison the Earth has only about 0.02 per cent water by mass, researchers said. GENEVA: Planets around the faint red star TRAPPIST-1 , just 40 light-years from Earth, may host significant amounts of water, scientists say.The TRAPPIST-1 planetary system was first detected in 2016.

Source: Economic Times February 06, 2018 06:11 UTC