<commit_before># Writing Assignment 1: Your first journal article
# 
**Due Wed, October 4**

In this assignment, you will be reading a scientific journal article
about a recent astronomical discovery. But before we dive into the
literature, we'll read a summary of the journal article written for
undergraduates by the website [**astrobites**](https://astrobites.org).
There will be questions to guide you through the readings, which you
should answer and turn in on October 4. Typed answers are preferred, but
handwritten ones will be accepted if they are clearly legible. *_Note all questions that require answers are in italics_* 

It may help to review the [presentation
slides](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/
1Ihefe2NhulD2zoC4iDlBLy_HGDdKhepwq2s475MMsmc/edit?usp=sharing) that I
showed in class for extra context.

## Part 1
## 
Read [this astrobites
article](https://astrobites.org/2017/02/22/trappist-1-just-right/) on
the discovery of _seven_ planets orbiting an ultracool star close to the
Sun, TRAPPIST-1. There are links throughout the article to further
explanations, don't hesitate to read more if there's something you could
understand better, and don't be afraid to use Google too. Reading your
first scientific paper will expose you to lots of words you haven't seen
before, and that's ok!

Explain in your own words, in no more than a few sentences:

*1. What kind of star is TRAPPIST-1 and in what ways (please list at
least 2) is it remarkable or interesting?*

*2. The planets around TRAPPIST-1 were discovered by the _transit_
method; what is the transit technique and how is it used to discover
planets? **Reminder:** a long essay is not necessary to respond to this
answer, three sentences or so will do.*

*3. What is the size scale of the TRAPPIST-1 system? In other words, how
far away are the planets from their host star (TRAPPIST-1), in<commit_msg>fixing formatting<commit_after># Writing Assignment 1: Your first journal article
# 
**Due Wed, October 4**

In this assignment, you will be reading a scientific journal article
about a recent astronomical discovery. But before we dive into the
literature, we'll read a summary of the journal article written for
undergraduates by the website [**astrobites**](https://astrobites.org).
There will be questions to guide you through the readings, which you
should answer and turn in on October 4. Typed answers are preferred, but
handwritten ones will be accepted if they are clearly legible. **Note all questions that require answers are in *italics*** 

It may help to review the [presentation
slides](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/
1Ihefe2NhulD2zoC4iDlBLy_HGDdKhepwq2s475MMsmc/edit?usp=sharing) that I
showed in class for extra context.

## Part 1
## 
Read [this astrobites
article](https://astrobites.org/2017/02/22/trappist-1-just-right/) on
the discovery of _seven_ planets orbiting an ultracool star close to the
Sun, TRAPPIST-1. There are links throughout the article to further
explanations, don't hesitate to read more if there's something you could
understand better, and don't be afraid to use Google too. Reading your
first scientific paper will expose you to lots of words you haven't seen
before, and that's ok!

Explain in your own words, in no more than a few sentences:

*1. What kind of star is TRAPPIST-1 and in what ways (please list at
least 2) is it remarkable or interesting?*

*2. The planets around TRAPPIST-1 were discovered by the _transit_
method; what is the transit technique and how is it used to discover
planets? **Reminder:** a long essay is not necessary to respond to this
answer, three sentences or so will do.*

*3. What is the size scale of the TRAPPIST-1 system? In other words, how
far away are the planets from their host star (TRAPPIST-1), in
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