L98-59d or TOI-175 d is an exoplanet orbiting the star L 98-59 34.6 light years from Earth. L 98-59 d is the third, potentially fourth, planet in its system. Its discovery was announced along with L 98-59 b and c in March 2019. L 98-59 d is a super-Earth having a mass of 1.64 M🜨 and has a radius of 1.627 R🜨. It takes 7.450729 days to orbit L 98-59 and orbits at a distance of 4.94% Earth's orbit and has one of the least eccentric orbits in its system with an eccentricity of 0.006. JWST observations of this planet found an atmosphere made of hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide and also found a lava ocean on its surface.
Atmosphere In March 2026 JWST discovered a cloud-free atmosphere around L 98-59 d made of hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide.
Magma ocean The same study that found an atmosphere around this planet found a molten surface made of lava with a temperature of 1900°C.
Formation L 98-59 d formed as a sub-Neptune about 5 billion years ago and its star stripped its atmosphere away. But L 98-59d had an abundance of hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide and over time due to volcanic activity formed an atmosphere with the same elements. L 98-59d has a core mass of 66% Earth's total mass. Its core has a radius 55% the radius of Earth. The L 98-59d we see today is the dying remnant of a mini-Neptune in the process of losing its atmosphere and becoming airless.
References


