# NASA has discovered 7 Earth-like planets 40 light years away **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 22, 2017, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nasa-has-discovered-7-earth-like-planets-40-light-years-away/780494 "2017-02-22T19:18:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nasa-has-discovered-7-earth-like-planets-40-light-years-away/780494/21 "2017-02-23T13:34:02Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > For names, I propose: > > **Doc > Happy > Grumpy > Sleepy > Sneezy > Bashful > Dopey**. > Heck, it beats “George” Well hell, they are orbiting a dwarf star. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nasa-has-discovered-7-earth-like-planets-40-light-years-away/780494/22 "2017-02-23T14:32:50Z")
Just wanted to note that the star, TRAPPIST-1, has something in common with Peter Dinklage: They are both ultra-cool dwarf stars. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nasa-has-discovered-7-earth-like-planets-40-light-years-away/780494/23 "2017-02-23T14:44:10Z")
> [@JoseB](#): > > As a matter of fact, although the TRAPPIST instrument has some automatic capabilities, it is actually controlled from Liège, in Belgium, 12000 km away. The team that made the discovery, headed by Michaël Gillion (mentioned in the VOX article), works at the Institut d’Astrophysique et Géophysique at the University of Liège. You don’t remember what “Belgium” means to the rest of the Universe? We’re doomed. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nasa-has-discovered-7-earth-like-planets-40-light-years-away/780494/24 "2017-02-23T15:22:25Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > You don’t remember what “Belgium” means to the rest of the Universe? > > We’re doomed. That’s okay–any battle fleet that they send will be swallowed by a small dog. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nasa-has-discovered-7-earth-like-planets-40-light-years-away/780494/25 "2017-02-23T17:18:22Z")
Spectacular news! We certainly do live in interesting times. ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nasa-has-discovered-7-earth-like-planets-40-light-years-away/780494/26 "2017-02-23T20:02:43Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > They will nuke us. If they don’t, I just might. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nasa-has-discovered-7-earth-like-planets-40-light-years-away/780494/27 "2017-02-23T20:33:39Z")
> [@CaptMurdock](#): > > If they don’t, I just might. You have a nuclear weapon? Man, I could make the neighbor’s damn dog shut up with one of those. ---
**Author:** ![Shamozzle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2017, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nasa-has-discovered-7-earth-like-planets-40-light-years-away/780494/28 "2017-02-25T02:08:20Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > They will nuke us. Or, at least, come and knock on our door. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2017, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nasa-has-discovered-7-earth-like-planets-40-light-years-away/780494/29 "2017-02-25T03:51:23Z")
> [@Shamozzle](#): > > Or, at least, come and knock on our door. Oh, G-d, they are going to toilet paper roll the planet! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nasa-has-discovered-7-earth-like-planets-40-light-years-away/780494.md?page=1)