Exhibit Codex
TRAPPIST-1 e
One of seven measured planets orbiting TRAPPIST-1. Its size and orbit are measured through observations; the displayed surface is an artistic interpretation.
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Exoplanet
Reference and coverage
Time scaling is shared with the interactive atlas. Surface interpretations and reconstructed history have different levels of certainty.
Planetary record
A measured world, an imagined surface
Transits reveal the planet’s size and orbital period. Surface colors are an artist’s interpretation: continents, oceans, vegetation and atmospheric composition have not been mapped.
A compact planetary family
Seven planets circle the ultracool dwarf TRAPPIST-1 in a closely packed, near-resonant arrangement. A habitable-zone orbit alone does not establish that a planet has water or supports life.
Orbit shown here
Motion uses the catalogued orbital period in a coplanar circular illustration. Absolute phase and orientation are chosen for readability, not reconstructed from transit timing.
Time in this exhibit
7.6 billion years ago · An ancient red dwarf
An approximate formation epoch for TRAPPIST-1. Its age is uncertain, and the early disk shown here is illustrative.
Present · Seven compact worlds
The known planets occupy a near-resonant orbital chain. Periods and radii come from the NASA Exoplanet Archive; the scene uses illustrative phases and surfaces.
Read the detailed records
Open the full exhibit Codex for individual structure records and time-specific information. The Credits page lists source creators, licenses and adaptations.