CHEOPS discovers warm mini-Neptunes and elusive planets

ESA's exoplanet mission Cheops has confirmed the existence of four warm mini-Neptunes orbiting four stars in our Milky Way, providing a 'missing link' between Earth-like and Neptune-like planets. These planets are smaller, cooler, and more difficult to find than hot Jupiters. The discovery of these planets is essential as it brings our sample of known exoplanets closer to the longer orbits that we find in our own Solar System. The composition of mini-Neptunes is still unknown, and further studies are needed to understand how these bodies formed. The newly confirmed exoplanets are perfect candidates for a follow-up visit by the James Webb Space Telescope or ESA's future Ariel mission.