This astronomer's poem beautifully explains the monumental discovery of 7 Earth-sized planets

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This astronomer's poem beautifully explains the monumental discovery of 7 Earth-sized planets

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ESO/M. Kornmesser

Seven rocky, Earth-size planets have been found circling TRAPPIST-1, a red dwarf star about the size of Jupiter.

A few of the worlds might even be habitable.

The monumental discovery has prompted scientists to launch a website for the planetary system — and yes, it has an equally monumental domain: trappist.one.

Researchers inspired by the new planetary system, which is about 39 light-years from Earth, are using trappist.one to publish fiction, artwork, and even poetic prose about it.

One poem by Sean Raymond, an astronomer at the Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux who co-authored a study in Nature about the planetary system, caught our eye.

Called "Ode to 7 orbs", it beautifully explains the discovery and importance of TRAPPIST-1's seven planets.

Raymond gave Business Insider permission to share his work, which we've reproduced here with a few illustrative additions.

"Ode to 7 orbs"

Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics

Wake up now people, I've got some big news!
You won't want to miss this. You don't want to snooze
We just found some planets while we were stargazing
Gather 'round, listen up. These ones are amazing!

NASA/JPL-Caltech

And it's not just one new planet. There are seven!
All orbiting one star up there in the heavens.
(With seven planets it still goes to eleven…)

NASA/JPL-Caltech

The thing 'bout this system that just makes us squeal,
All seven are Earth-sized. Now, that's a big deal!
And four of those planets could have the conditions 
For liquid water! (based on their positions)

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

See Also:

• Astronomers discovered a solar system with 7 Earth-sized planets — and it’s the perfect place to search for alien life
• Astronomers have found 7 Earth-size planets circling a dwarf star — and some might be able to host life
• How to watch NASA reveal a 'discovery beyond our solar system' on Wednesday

SEE ALSO: Why dim red stars may be our best hope of finding aliens

DON'T MISS: The 'Earth next door' may have a cozy atmosphere — and we could find out in just 2 years

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February 22, 2017 at 08:45AM