Just last month, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) discovered seven Earth-like planets orbiting TRAPPIST-1, an “ultra-cool dwarf” star in the constellation Aquarius. What makes this discovery exciting is that it is a mere 39 lightyears away, and three are in a habitable region likely to carry water, and even life.
According to Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator of the Science Mission Directorate at NASA, “The discovery gives us a hint that finding a second Earth is not just a matter of if, but when.”
Because of this amazing discovery, Twitter had a field day trying to come up with names for the seven planets, similar to the time when the British government asked the the public to name its new polar exploration ship. One of the most popular names was Boaty McBoatface, so you can tell just how much fun Twitter had in naming these planets.
Check out some of the popular votes below:
#7NamesFor7NewPlanets?
TRAPPIST-1b
TRAPPIST-1c
TRAPPIST-1d
TRAPPIST-1e
TRAPPIST-1f
TRAPPIST-1g
TRAPPIST-1h???? https://t.co/QS80AnZ2Jg pic.twitter.com/gis6Ba7UBu
— NASA (@NASA) February 24, 2017
#7NamesFor7NewPlanets
Tom Riddle’s Diary
Marvolo’s Ring
Slytherin’s Locket
Hufflepuff’s Cup
Ravenclaw’s Diadem
Nagini
Harry Potter— Lost At Hogwarts (@LostAtHogwarts) March 3, 2017
#7NamesFor7NewPlanets
Never
Gonna Give U Up
Gonna Let U Down
Gonna Run Around Desert U
Gonna Make U Cry
Gonna Say G’bye
Gonna Tell A Lie— Chelle (@Michelle_Heng) March 2, 2017
#7NamesFor7NewPlanets
Dragon Ball 1⭐
Dragon Ball 2⭐
Dragon Ball 3⭐
Dragon Ball 4⭐
Dragon Ball 5⭐
Dragon Ball 6⭐
Dragon Ball 7⭐— Sakarla (@prepuciosalamar) March 6, 2017
#7NamesFor7NewPlanets
Bill
Charlie
Percy
Fred
George
Ron
GinnyDe nada, @NASA https://t.co/xaCLsX6maJ
— FuckYeahHarryPotter (@FYharrypotter7) March 4, 2017
Rochelle
Jopay
Aira
Evette
Cheche
Sunshine
Izzy#7NamesFor7NewPlanets— jason r (@jayzner) March 4, 2017
#7NamesFor7NewPlanets
Organa
Solo
Skywalker
Kenobi
Mothma
Dodonna
Ackbar
It’s a TRAPPIST!— Julie Frayn (@JulieFrayn) March 3, 2017
#7NamesFor7NewPlanets
Shire
Rivendell
Lothlorien
Rohan
Gondor
Isengard
Mordor— TWOBLACKCAT5 (@TWOBLACKCAT5) March 3, 2017
#7NamesFor7NewPlanets #NASA
Sleepy
Happy
Bashful
Sneezy
Grumpy
Dopey
Doc
I mean, they are orbiting a DWARF star. It’s not ???? ????????— Zoe (@thatzoe) March 3, 2017
Pizza Planet
Pizza Plane
Pizza Plan
Pizza Pla
Pizza Pl
Pizza P
Pizza#7NamesFor7NewPlanets pic.twitter.com/3NEhV7ChOh— Angela Sanchez Orti (@angelasaor) February 26, 2017
STARK
LANNISTER
BARATHEON
TARGARYEN
TULLY
GREYJOY
TYRELL#7NamesFor7NewPlanets— KΔRMΔ (@smile_always_96) February 26, 2017
#7NamesFor7NewPlanets
Monica
Ross
Chandler
Phoebe
Rachel
Joey
Marcel— Ash➶ | -17 (@tennantslaugh) February 26, 2017
#7NamesFor7NewPlanets
New Folder
New Folder 1
New Folder 2
New Folder 3
New Folder 4
New Folder 5
New Folder 6— elham (@Arrtemiis) February 26, 2017
The Fast and the Furious
2 Fast 2 Furious
Tokyo Drift
Fast & Furious
Fast 5
Fast & Furious 6
Furious 7— Jordan Freiman (@JordanFreiman) February 24, 2017
#7NamesFor7NewPlanets
Pluto
Long Live Pluto
Pluto Forever
We Love Pluto
Screw You For Killing Pluto
Planet of the Keks
Pluto— Idiocracy Rising (@TideOfFools) February 24, 2017
New Earth, New New Earth, New New New Earth, New New New New Earth, New New New New New Earth, New New New New New New #7NamesFor7NewPlanets
— Anne (@whenineternal) February 24, 2017
Earth 2
Earth 2s
Earth 2s Plus
Earth 2s Plus 128GB
Earth 2s Plus 128GB Black
Earth 2s Plus 128GB Rose Gold
Earth 3#7NamesFor7NewPlanets— trutherbotred (@trutherbotred) February 25, 2017
stone
chamber
prisoner
goblet
order
prince
hallows #7NamesFor7NewPlanets— lottie•pinned if unf (@pottersnewt) February 24, 2017
#7NamesFor7NewPlanets
A New Hope
Empire Strikes Back
Return of the Jedi
The Force Awakens
then routinely deny the other three exist— James McCoull (@Edamessiah) February 26, 2017
Planet McPlanetface
Moonie McMoonface
Rocky McRockface
Icy McIceface
Dusty McDustface
Gasy McGasface
Wanda#7NamesFor7NewPlanets— Idiotcracy (@idiotcracy) February 24, 2017
This one
That one
The other one
No, that one
More to the left
To my left
Oh, forget it#7NamesFor7NewPlanets— Momentum (@MomentumComic) February 24, 2017
Planet Fitness
Planet Hollywood
Captain Planet
Planet of the Apes
Planet Coaster
Pizza Planet
Pluto #7NamesFor7NewPlanets— Scott Williams (@jswilliams1962) February 24, 2017
And our favorite:
Planet McPlanetface 1
Planet McPlanetface 2
Planet McPlanetface 3And so on…
— kevblokey (@kevblokey) March 1, 2017
What would you name the new seven planets? Share your thoughts below!
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