ASTRONOMERS operating a robotic telescope in Chile have discovered the "seven sisters", a group of seven Earth-like planets orbiting the same nearby star.
The observation was made and the nickname given by the team working the TRAPPIST robotic telescope at La Silla in Chile, operated from the University of Liege, which is designed to search for transiting planets.
Astronomers expect such dim red dwarf stars to host many Earth-sized planets in tight orbits, making them promising targets in the search for extraterrestrial life.
TRAPPIST-1, in the constellation Aquarius, is a small star with eight per cent the mass of the sun and only slightly bigger than the planet Jupiter.
The team determined that all the planets in the system are similar in size to Earth and Venus, or slightly smaller. Density measurements suggest that at least the innermost six are rocky.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here