Tag

L 98 59 D

All articles tagged with #l 98 59 d

Sulfur-Scented Exoplanet Redefines Planet Types
space3 hours ago

Sulfur-Scented Exoplanet Redefines Planet Types

Scientists using JWST have identified L 98-59 d, a 1.6× Earth-radius exoplanet 35 light-years away with a global magma ocean that stores sulfur, producing a sulfur-rich atmosphere including hydrogen sulfide; its low density and molten interior challenge existing small-planet categories. Computer models trace its five-billion-year evolution from a volatile-rich world that cooled and shrank while preserving sulfur, implying more exotic planet types exist—though the planet is unlikely to host life.

New exoplanet L 98-59 d unveils sulfurous magma oceans
space-exploration4 hours ago

New exoplanet L 98-59 d unveils sulfurous magma oceans

Scientists using the James Webb Space Telescope and ground facilities have identified L 98-59 d as a new exoplanet with a sulfur-rich atmosphere and a semi-molten magma-ocean interior, a world that is unusually low in density for its size and unlike previously known rocky or watery planets. The study, published in Nature Astronomy, suggests a broader diversity of planet types and raises questions about other exotic, pungent planets, though the conditions are unlikely to support Earth-like life.

JWST uncovers a sulfur-rich lava-ocean exoplanet, redefining planet types
astronomy21 hours ago

JWST uncovers a sulfur-rich lava-ocean exoplanet, redefining planet types

Space-based and ground observations reveal L 98-59 d as a 1.6× Earth's size exoplanet with a global magma ocean and a sulfur-rich atmosphere likely dominated by hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide, suggesting it formed from a larger sub-Neptune and cooled over billions of years. This lava-world represents a new class of planets and highlights the surprising diversity of worlds beyond our solar system.