Planety McPlanetface? NASA asks public to name seven new planets

NASA has asked Twitter users to name the seven newly discovered planets in the TRAPPIST-1 system – and the inevitable has happened.

One of the top suggestions has been Planety McPlanetface – after the winnning vote in a competition to name a polar exploration ship.

Since that moment, it’s become traditional for prankers to try to take over naming competitions for everything from council gritters (Gritty McGritface) to beavers (Beavery McBeaverface).

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NASA’s Tweet was immediately leapt on by cosmic pranksters suggesting that the new planets should simply be named Planety McPlanetface 1-7.

Others suggested ideas from Harry Potter, the seven Fast and the Furious movies and Game of Thrones.

Sadly, it’s unlikely that the planets will end up being called Planety McPlanetface 1-7 – as NASA’s poll is not binding, and the final name will be decided by the International Astronomical Union.