TIL about the TRAPPIST-1 Star System - eviltoast

(it’s not a solar system because Sol is our star, specifically; we’re the only Solar system)

TRAPPIST-1 is a cool red dwarf star[c] with seven known exoplanets.

Up to four of the planets – designated d, e, f and g – orbit at distances where temperatures are suitable for the existence of liquid water, and are thus potentially hospitable to life.

The red dwarf star TRAPPIST-1 has an estimated lifespan of pretty much the entire lifespan of the universe. If any of those planets are habitable, and humanity goes there, we could live there until the end of the whole universe, no worrying about our sun going out in about 5 billion years. It could be our forever home.

The planets in the TRAPPIST system are extremely close to each other, so the night sky on any of them would be awe-inspiring, with multiple bodies bigger than our moon rising and setting every night.

  • Skymt@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    Isn’t the name of the sun Helios? I thought Sol was more like a title or description… like “mom” or “dad”, but for planets.

    • Cryophilia@lemmy.worldOP
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      4 months ago

      Helios is another one of the Sun’s names. It’s the more poetic version. But Sol is a proper name, exclusive to our sun.

      • Skymt@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        It’s probably my Swedish upbringing then.

        In Swedish, “sun” translates directly to “sol”. And we have different forms, like “solen” -> “the sun”, “solar” -> “suns”, “solarna” -> “the suns” etc.

        But we don’t have different forms for proper names.