On February 10, astronauts announced the discovery of  record-breaking seven new planets orbiting the dwarf star TRAPPIST-1. They have orbits no more than two weeks long, are earth-sized, three are in the habitable zone, and, according to estimates of mass and density, are probably rocky. All of these clues build a picture of three possible planets that can support life.

This discovery is amazing. “In terms of transiting planets,” said astrophysicist Nikku Madhusudhan from Cambridge, “this is as close to the holy grail as we’ve ever seen.”

The Belgian project that found TRAPPIST-1 39 light years away also previously identified three planets, but the discovery of four more in the same system is astounding. They could do this by using NASA’s infrared Spitzer Space Telescope, as well as other telescopes around the world and atmosphere. As investigations continue, with the launch of more high-powered telescopes in the near future, scientists will be able to conclude more about the planets and their atmospheres and surfaces.

However, what they have deduced so far from the gravitational pulls and orbits of the planets points to the fact that they aren’t gaseous, but habitable and perhaps with atmospheres. The fact that the planets were formed outside of the system and trapped in raises the possibility of there being water on their surfaces. This gives hope to finding life on these planets, or at least conditions possible for life.

“I think it’s just mind-blowing,” said BBHS senior Hanna NcNulty. “The fact that technology is so advanced that we can find these planets and study them from so far away is inspiring.”

This advance marks a historical discovery for science and will spur many more years of research, as well as inspiring future scientists and impacting the global community.