TRAPPIST-1b

TRAPPIST-1b, also designated as 2MASS J23062928-

0502285 b, is a mainly rocky exoplanet orbiting around the TRAPPIST-1b
ultra-cool dwarf star TRAPPIST-1, located 40.7 light-years
(12.5 parsecs) away from Earth in the constellation of
Aquarius. The planet was detected using the transit method,
where a planet dims the host star's light as it passes in front
of it. It was first announced on May 2, 2016,[1] and later
studies were able to refine its physical parameters.
Earth and TRAPPIST-1b compared
The planet is about 37% more massive than Earth and about Discovery[1]
39% larger in volume; thus its density is very similar. It is
Discovered by Michaël Gillon et al.
the innermost of seven planets orbiting TRAPPIST-1, all of
which are terrestrial, but is too close to its star to be in the Discovery site TRAPPIST
habitable zone. Observations by the James Webb Space Discovery date May 2, 2016
Telescope announced in 2023 suggest that it does not have
Detection Transit
any significant atmosphere.[7][8] Its albedo is very low, method
making it dark in color.
Orbital characteristics[2]

Physical characteristics Semi-major

axis
0.01154 ± 0.00010 AU
(1,726,000 ± 15,000 km)
Eccentricity 0.00622 ± 0.00304[3]
Mass, radius, and temperature Orbital period 1.510826 ± 0.000006 d
(sidereal) (36.25982 ± 0.00014 h)
TRAPPIST-1b is very similar in both mass, radius, and
gravity to Earth. It has a radius of 1.116 R🜨, a mass of Inclination 89.728° ± 0.165°
1.374 M🜨, and about 110% Earth's surface gravity.[2] Initial Argument of 336.86° ± 34.24°[3]
estimates of the planet's density suggested that it is not periastron
entirely rocky; with a density of 3.98 g/cm3 , about ≤5% of Star TRAPPIST-1[4]
its mass must be volatiles, likely in the form of a thick Physical characteristics[2]
Venus-like atmosphere due to it receiving nearly four times
Mean radius +0.014
more energy than Earth does.[3] However, refined density 1.116 −0.012 R🜨
estimates show that the planet is only slightly less dense than Mass 1.374 ± 0.069 M🜨
Earth.[2] +0.265
Mean density 5.425 −0.272 g/cm3
Assuming the presence of an atmosphere, the planet's Surface 1.102 ± 0.052 g
surface temperature was initially estimated to be between gravity 10.80 ± 0.51 m/s2
750 K (477 °C; 890 °F) and 1,500 K (1,230 °C; 2,240 °F),
potentially as high as 2,000 K (1,730 °C; 3,140 °F). This is Albedo 0.02 ± 0.11[5]
much hotter than the surface of Venus and may be hot Temperature 397.6 ± 3.8 K (124.5 °C;
enough that the surface is molten lava.[3] An observation of 256.0 °F, equilibrium)[6]
the secondary eclipse of TRAPPIST-1b by the James Webb +26
503 −27 K (230 °C;
Space Telescope, announced in 2023, suggests that the
planet does not have any significant atmosphere, with a 446 °F, surface)[7]
measured surface temperature of about 503 K (230 °C; Atmosphere
446 °F),[7][8] and a low albedo.[5] The planet may be very Composition None or extremely
geologically active due to tidal squeezing similar to Jupiter's by volume thin[7][8]
moon Io, which happens to have a similar orbital period and
eccentricity (see TRAPPIST-1#Resonance and tides for
references).

Orbit

TRAPPIST-1b orbits very close to its parent star. One orbit requires only 36 hours, or about 1.51 Earth
days.[9] It orbits about 0.0115 AU (1.72 million km; 1.07 million mi) from its star, just 1.2% the distance
between Earth and the Sun.[3] The close proximity to its host star means that TRAPPIST-1b is likely tidally
locked. It also has a very circular orbit, with an eccentricity of 0.00622, significantly more circular than
Earth's orbit, which has an eccentricity of 0.0167086.

Host star

TRAPPIST-1b orbits the ultracool red dwarf star TRAPPIST-1. It has a mass of 0.089 M☉ and is only
0.121 R☉ , with a surface temperature of 2,511 K (2,238 °C; 4,060 °F) and an age between 3 and 8 billion
years. The Sun, in comparison, has a surface temperature of 5,778 K (5,505 °C; 9,941 °F) and is about 4.5
billion years old. TRAPPIST-1 is also very dim, with a luminosity about 0.0005 times that of the Sun. It is
too faint to be seen with the naked eye, having an apparent magnitude of 18.80.

Atmosphere

The combined transmission spectra of TRAPPIST-1 b and c rule

out cloud-free hydrogen-dominated atmospheres for both planets,
so they are unlikely to harbor extended gas envelopes. Also, no
helium emission from TRAPPIST-1b has been detected.[10] Prior
to JWST observations, other atmospheres, from a cloud-free water-
vapor atmosphere to a Venus-like atmosphere, remained consistent
Artist's impression of TRAPPIST-1b with the featureless spectra.[11]
(March 2023)
In 2018, the planet's atmosphere was better examined by the
Spitzer Space Telescope and suggested to be quite large and hot,
although the presence of an atmosphere could not be confirmed. The planet's transmission spectrum and
refined density estimate suggested two main possibilities for the atmosphere: one rich in carbon dioxide, or
one rich in water vapor. The more likely CO2 atmosphere would have a scale height of approximately 52
kilometers (32 miles) (Earth's being 8 km (5.0 mi), and Venus' at 15.9 km (9.9 mi)) and an average
temperature in excess of 1,400 K (1,130 °C; 2,060 °F), far greater than the planet's equilibrium temperature
of 397.6 K (124.5 °C; 256.0 °F). A water vapor atmosphere would need to have a scale height of >100 km
(62 mi) and a temperature >1,800 K (1,530 °C; 2,780 °F) to produce the variations seen in the planet's
transit depths and its transmission spectrum, and would be vulnerable to photodissociation where CO2
would not be. Other sources for the effects seen, such as hazes and thick clouds, would require an even
larger atmosphere. TRAPPIST-1b will have to be studied further to confirm its potential large
atmosphere.[9][3]

An observation of the secondary eclipse of TRAPPIST-1b by the James Webb Space Telescope,
announced in March 2023, suggests that the planet does not have any significant atmosphere.[7][8]
Atmospheres containing carbon dioxide with surface pressures greater than 0.1 bar can be ruled out at 3-
sigma, and pressures greater than 0.01 bar at 1-sigma.[5] Further studies of the exoplanet by transmission
spectroscopy (primary eclipse), reported in September 2023, also confirmed the absence of a hydrogen-rich
atmosphere, but due to stellar contamination were unable to determine the presence or absence of other
types of atmospheres based on the transmission spectroscopy data alone. This does not affect the previous
results based on emission spectroscopy.[12][13]

Gallery

Artist's view of planets transiting The Sun and the ultracool dwarf
red dwarf star in TRAPPIST-1 star TRAPPIST-1 to scale. The
system[14] faint star has only 11% of the
diameter of the Sun and is
much redder in colour.
 Artist's impression of three of Artist's impression video, near
the planets (b, c, and d) orbiting one of the three planets orbiting
TRAPPIST-1 TRAPPIST-1. One of the inner
planets is shown in transit
across the disc of its tiny and
dim parent star.

See also
55 Cancri e, a very hot planet with a confirmed atmosphere.
LHS 3844 b, a hot, rocky planet without an atmosphere

References
1. Gillon, Michaël; Jehin, Emmanuël; Lederer, Susan M.; Delrez, Laetitia; et al. (May 2016).
"Temperate Earth-sized planets transiting a nearby ultracool dwarf star" (https://www.ncbi.nl
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"Refining the Transit-timing and Photometric Analysis of TRAPPIST-1: Masses, Radii,
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lescope.org/images/opo1627a/). www.spacetelescope.org. Retrieved 21 July 2016.

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