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- L 98-59 d is a super-Earth exoplanet,<\/strong> discovered in 2019. It\u2019s 35 light-years away and about 1.5 times the size of Earth.<\/li>\n
- The Webb space telescope observed the planet<\/strong> again recently, looking for evidence of an atmosphere.<\/li>\n
- It found the planet has a sulfur-rich atmosphere<\/strong>, the new results suggest. Astronomers said it might be an active volcanic world, with volcanoes reminiscent of those on Jupiter\u2019s volcanic moon Io.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The 2025 EarthSky Lunar Calendar is now available! A unique and beautiful poster-sized calendar. Makes a great gift. Get yours today!<\/p>\n
Is this a volcanic exoplanet?<\/h3>\n
Volcanoes are common in our solar system. Earth, Mars and Venus all have them. Even some moons do, for example, Jupiter\u2019s moon Io. But what about distant exoplanets around other stars? On November 11, 2024, researchers at The Open University in the U.K. said they\u2019ve found possible evidence for a sulfur-rich atmosphere on a planet 35 light-years away. The planet is labeled L 98-59 d. It\u2019s about 1.5 times the size of Earth. The researchers tentatively detected the gases sulfur dioxide (SO2) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in its atmosphere. If confirmed, it would indicate the surface is likely molten or volcanic. Exoplanet L 98-59 d would also be the smallest of the distant planets known so far that have confirmed atmospheres.<\/p>\n
The researchers used NASA\u2019s Webb Space Telescope to make the discovery.<\/p>\n
Researcher Agnibha Banerjee at The Open University wrote about the new findings in The Conversation on November 11, 2024.<\/p>\n
The researchers published their peer-reviewed findings in The Astrophysical Letters<\/em> on October 30, 2024.<\/p>\n
Meet L 98-59 d<\/h3>\n
L 98-59 d is a rocky planet, like Earth, and about 1.5 times the size of Earth. This puts it in the category of super-Earth. It orbits an M-type star \u2013 or red dwarf \u2013 35 light-years from Earth. NASA\u2019s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) space telescope discovered it in 2019. <\/p>\n
TESS used the transit method to detect the planet. That\u2019s when a planet transits \u2013 passes in front of \u2013 its star, as seen from Earth. L 98-59 d orbits close to its star, completing an orbit in only 7.5 days.<\/p>\n
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“Researchers, including academics from The Open University (OU) have discovered a possible sulphur-rich atmosphere of exoplanet L 98-59 d, signalling possible volcanoes on its surface.”<\/p>\n
Read more on #OUNews<\/a>! pic.twitter.com\/SlLf4gYxvP<\/a><\/p>\n
- The Webb space telescope observed the planet<\/strong> again recently, looking for evidence of an atmosphere.<\/li>\n
![\"Planet-like](\"https:\/\/earthsky.org\/upl\/2024\/11\/Io-moon-volcanoes-June-28-1997.jpg\")