NASA's Request for New Planet Names Is a Hilarious McPlanetface Disaster

By
Michael d'Estries
Writer
  • State University of New York at Geneseo
Michael d’Estries has been writing about science, culture, space and sustainability since 2005. His writing has appeared on Business Insider, CNN, and Forbes.
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Michael d'Estries
Updated June 05, 2017
An artist's conception of the seven Earth-sized planets recently discovered orbiting a star known as TRAPPIST-1. . (Photo: NASA)

A few days after announcing the discovery of seven Earth-sized planets in a star system known as TRAPPIST-1, NASA took to Twitter to ask the internet for help in naming the new alien worlds.

In a world post-Boaty McBoatface, we're pretty sure the space agency posted this request fully aware of what would happen. Needless to say, the public once again did not disappoint with its suggestions.

https://twitter.com/trutherbotred/status/835341145483849729

https://twitter.com/Aries19Xx/status/835102408124563457

https://twitter.com/UnicornTika/status/835054757983236096

Located some 39 light-years away, TRAPPIST-1 is generating excitement because of the possibility that at least three of its planets may be capable of supporting life. The three, simply known as E, F and G, occupy what's known as the "Goldilocks Zone," or the region around a star capable of supporting liquid water on a planet's surface. In the coming years, NASA plans on employing new technologies, such as the deep space James Webb telescope, to further study TRAPPIST-1 and provide new insights on this fascinating corner of the universe.

Thankfully, there were a few brave souls who resisted having a laugh and offered up some genuinely good ideas for NASA to consider.

@NASA #7NamesFor7NewPlanets
Giza
Babylon
Olympia
Ephesus
Halicarnassus
Rhodes
Alexandria

Locations of Seven wonders of the ancient world.
— U5MAN.AHM3D (@U5manA) March 2, 2017