And Now the Internet Is Naming the 7 Trappist-1 Exoplanets
When the UK’s Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) innocently queried the internet in search of a name for their new polar research ship, the web responded gleefully, and NERC got more of a response than they bargained for. They also got a name they hadn’t bargained for: Boaty McBoatface. Although their response was something along the lines of, “Ha, ha. Very funny. We’re naming the boat the RRS Sir David Attenborough,” it drew the world’s attention to the work done by NERC. (As a consolation prize of sorts, NERC bestowed the more awesome moniker on one of the ship’s remotely operated underwater vehicles.)
Now NASA, fresh off their own exciting announcement of the discovery of the seven earth-ish Trappist-1 exoplanets — and obviously having a sense of humor — has turned to the internet for naming assistance. They’ve asked people to suggest names on Twitter using #7NamesFor7NewPlanets. And guess what’s going on.
Obviously, people suggested names from Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, the Star Wars universe, and characters from Harry Potter. On a touching note, several people tweeted sets of seven NASA astronauts to be memorialized. And of course, ask a stupid question…
@NASA#7NamesFor7NewPlanets
Planety McPlanetFace-1
Planety McPlanetFace-2
Planety McPlanetFace-3
Planety McPlanetFace-4
Planety McPl… etc— #SaveNantLlesg (@judas_twit) February 26, 2017
Let’s begin with a no-brainer.
#7NamesFor7NewPlanets #NASA
Sleepy
Happy
Bashful
Sneezy
Grumpy
Dopey
Doc
I mean, they are orbiting a DWARF star. It's not [emoji for rocket science— Zoe (@thatzoe) March 3, 2017
Some people have issues to resolve.
#7NamesFor7NewPlanets NASA
1- I
2- Think
3- You
4- Owe
5- Pluto
6- An
7- Apology— Christine Bottas (@Nyhterides) March 2, 2017
And this poor guy.
#7NamesFor7NewPlanets
new folder
new folder1
new folder2
new folder3
new folder4
new folder5
new folder6— امین (@Aaminfadaee) February 26, 2017
One famous set of seven things.
Disbelief
Denial
Bargaining
Guilt
Anger
Depression
Acceptance— Alf (@Alf_Salmon) March 3, 2017
And, ah yes, this.
#7NamesFor7NewPlanets
Envy
Pride
Greed
Lust
Wrath
Gluttony
Sloth— Manda Rie (@BookWenchManda) February 26, 2017
Good point.
#7NamesFor7NewPlanets
what
if
their
people
already
named
them— Imperator Furiosa (@blackdeanarys) February 24, 2017
Classic Big Mac, anyone?
#7NamesFor7NewPlanets
Two All Beef Patties
Special Sauce
Lettuce
Cheese
Pickles
Onions
Sesame Seed Bun— Mother Resister (@MotherResister) March 2, 2017
And...the very best one of all.
#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
Sorry about that.
It's not clear if NASA's still watching the Twitter thread, but, hey, why wouldn't they be? t's fun! If you've got your own suggestions, just tweet away with the hashtag #7NamesFor7NewPlanets.
