The TRAPPIST-1 system was one of the most awaited targets of the James Webb Space Telescope. Lying a mere 40 light years away, it comprises seven Earth-sized rocky planets orbiting an ultra-cool red dwarf star. Three of the seven planets lie in the habitable zone of the star, making the TRAPPIST-1 system one of the best shots in our search for extraterrestrial life. However, Webb's first detailed analysis of the innermost planet, TRAPPIST-1 b, is here, and it's not promising.
So what did Webb discover in one of the planets of the system? What techniques were used to determine the nature of the planet orbiting TRAPPIST-1? Finally, and most importantly, why are these results so critical for astronomers?
The 52nd episode of the Sunday Discovery Series answers all these questions in detail.
