Original project · 2026

Complete star-system information

TRAPPIST-1

Seven roughly Earth-size planets orbiting an ultracool red dwarf about 40 light-years away.

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Host starTRAPPIST-1

Ultracool M-type red dwarf

Distance from EarthApprox. 40.7 light-years

One-way light time: 40.7 years

Worlds listed here1

1 catalog candidates flagged for habitability discussion.

Communication round trip81.4 years

Before any scientific processing or response delay.

System architecture

TRAPPIST-1

Star typeUltracool M-type red dwarf
ArchitectureSeven transiting, roughly Earth-size planets packed inside a region much smaller than Mercury's orbit.
How it is observedRepeated transits allow radius, orbital timing and atmospheric follow-up studies.
Research importanceOne of the best laboratories for comparing several rocky planets formed around the same small star.
Main uncertaintyAtmospheres and surface conditions remain uncertain, and stellar activity may strongly affect habitability.
Known planets7
Planet-size rangeRoughly Earth-size
Detection strengthMultiple repeated transits
Catalog worldTRAPPIST-1e

System travel calculation

How long to reach TRAPPIST-1?

This is the approximate distance from Earth to the host star system. Every listed planet in the system is effectively at the same interstellar distance for travel estimates.

At light speed40.7 years299,792 km/s

A physical reference only. A spacecraft with mass cannot reach light speed.

At 10% of light speed407 years29,979 km/s — hypothetical

No operational spacecraft can sustain this interstellar cruise speed.

At 1% of light speed4,070 years2,998 km/s — hypothetical

Still far beyond current spacecraft propulsion.

At Parker Solar Probe peak63,476 yearsAbout 692,000 km/h

Parker reaches this speed only very close to the Sun; it is not an interstellar cruise speed.

At New Horizons launch speed750,403 yearsAbout 58,536 km/h

A comparison using a real high-energy launch from Earth.

At Voyager 1 speed717,738 yearsAbout 61,200 km/h

A practical comparison with a spacecraft already moving into interstellar space.

Catalog worlds in this system

1 listed worlds

Primary catalog source: NASA Science ↗