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PLANET MCPLANETFACE

Nasa’s bid to let the public name the seven alien planets of TRAPPIST-1 backfires with hilarious results

Space agency enlists the assistance of Twitter users, but they didn't take the task entirely seriously

YOU'D think last year's Boaty McBoatface incident had taught boffins that the public can't be trusted to name anything sensibly.

But the super-smart brains of Nasa decided to throw caution to the wind and invite the public to name the seven alien worlds orbiting a recently-discovered star called TRAPPIST-1.

Artist's concept of TRAPPIST-1, an ultra-cool dwarf star, and the seven Earth-size planets orbiting it
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Artist's concept of TRAPPIST-1, an ultra-cool dwarf star, and the seven Earth-size planets orbiting itCredit: PA:Press Association
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An artist's conception of what the surface of the exoplanet TRAPPIST-1f may look like, based on available data about its diameter, mass and distances from the host star
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An artist's conception of what the surface of the exoplanet TRAPPIST-1f may look like, based on available data about its diameter, mass and distances from the host starCredit: AP:Associated Press

They may have forgotten - or chosen to ignore - the public's failed attempt to call a £200 million British Arctic research vessel Boaty McBoatface.

Space scientists invited the public to suggest monikers for the planets of TRAPPIST-1 using the Twitter hashtag "#".

But Nasa didn't quite get the answers it was looking for.

These are Nasa's scientific names for the planets of Trappist-1
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These are Nasa's scientific names for the planets of Trappist-1
This woman suggested Nasa should name the planets after the Seven Dwarfs
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This woman suggested Nasa should name the planets after the Seven Dwarfs
The seven deadly sins would certainly make the solar system seem like a more edgy place
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The seven deadly sins would certainly make the solar system seem like a more edgy place
The cast of Friends (and no, we don't know who Mike is either)
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The cast of Friends (and no, we don't know who Mike is either)

 

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Some people suggested the planets should be named after the seven dwarfs, the days of the week or even the stars of the sitcom Friends.

Perhaps inevitably, a few people called on Nasa to call one of the worlds Planet McPlanetface, although it's not quite clear what the other six planets would be called.

Sadly, it's unlikely that Nasa will follow up on the ideas any time soon.

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