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Sub-Neptune
Sub-Neptune
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Artistic rendering of a sub-neptune

The term sub-Neptune can refer to two different types of planets. It may describe a planet that has a smaller radius than Neptune, even if that planet actually has a larger mass.[1] Alternatively, it can describe a planet with a smaller mass than Neptune, even if that planet has a larger radius (like a super-puff planet). Both definitions are sometimes used within the same scientific publication.[2]

Neptune-like planets are considerably rarer than sub-Neptune sized planets, despite being only slightly bigger.[3][4] This "radius cliff" separates sub-Neptunes (radii < 3 Earth radii) from Neptunes (radii > 3 Earth radii).[3] This radius cliff is thought to arise because during formation when gas is accreting, the atmospheres of planets that size reach the pressures required to force the hydrogen into the magma ocean stalling radius growth. Then, once the magma ocean saturates, radius growth can continue. However, planets that have enough gas to reach saturation are much rarer, because they require much more gas.[3]

On 29 November 2023, astronomers reported the discovery of six sub-Neptune exoplanets orbiting the star HD 110067, with radii ranging from 1.94 R🜨 to 2.85 R🜨.[5][6][7]

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Sub-Neptune

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A sub-Neptune, also known as a , is an with a radius typically ranging from 1.5 to 4 times that of , positioning it between super-Earths and Neptune-sized worlds in scale. These planets are characterized by rocky cores enveloped in hydrogen-dominated atmospheres, often comprising a few percent of their total mass by weight, and they their host at distances closer than Mercury's orbit around the Sun. Sub-Neptunes represent the most abundant class of s detected by surveys like NASA's Kepler mission, with over half of Sun-like hosting at least one such world, an outcome unanticipated by pre-Kepler formation models. Their masses generally fall between 3 and 8 masses, though estimates vary based on observed densities, which reveal a bimodality in planetary populations: gas-rich sub-Neptunes that retain primordial hydrogen-helium envelopes, and stripped variants resembling larger rocky super-Earths after atmospheric loss. This radius gap, evident around 1.5–2.0 radii, arises from processes like photoevaporation—where stellar radiation strips atmospheres—or core-powered mass loss during early planetary evolution. Compositionally, sub-Neptunes feature -like rocky interiors with silicate-to-iron ratios near 3:1 and low volatile content (less than 10% water by mass), but their extended gaseous layers often include hazy aerosols that obscure spectroscopic observations of inner atmospheres. Recent data on examples like TOI-421 b, a hot sub-Neptune with a clear hydrogen-dominated atmosphere containing and tentative traces of and , highlight their diversity compared to cooler, haze-shrouded counterparts. Regarding origins, sub-Neptunes likely form in protoplanetary disks through two primary mechanisms: inward migration of icy embryos grown beyond the snow line, followed by gas accretion, or in situ growth via drifting pebbles that coalesce near their host stars. Unlike our solar system's ice giants, which migrated outward, these close-in worlds challenge traditional planet formation theories and suggest environmental factors like stellar irradiation influence atmospheric retention. Ongoing missions such as JWST continue to probe their compositions, potentially revealing habitable potential in those with liquid water oceans beneath hydrogen layers, though most known sub-Neptunes are too hot for such conditions due to short orbital periods of days to weeks.

Definition and classification

Radius and mass ranges

Sub-Neptunes are defined primarily by their sizes, with planetary radii typically spanning 1.5 to 4 radii (R⊕), placing them between the smaller super-Earths and the larger Neptune-sized worlds. This range emerges from analyses of Kepler mission data, where a bimodal distribution in radii reveals a "radius valley" or gap centered around 1.7–2.0 R⊕, separating rocky super-Earths (below ~1.7 R⊕) from volatile-rich sub-Neptunes above it. The upper limit of ~4 R⊕ aligns with the onset of classifications, though some studies narrow the core sub-Neptune population to 2.0–3.0 R⊕ for planets with substantial gaseous envelopes. Representative examples include K2-18 b at approximately 2.6 R⊕ and the system planets ranging from 1.94 to 2.85 R⊕, illustrating the prevalence of this size regime among close-in exoplanets. Masses of sub-Neptunes are less precisely constrained due to fewer measurements, but models and observations indicate a typical range of 2 to 20 masses (M⊕), reflecting diverse internal structures from water-rich worlds to those with hydrogen-helium atmospheres comprising 1–20% of total . The lower end (~2–4 M⊕) often corresponds to the minimum for retaining significant volatile envelopes, varying with host star type—lower for M-dwarfs (~1.9 M⊕) and higher for FGK stars (~4.3 M⊕)—while upper masses approach 10–20 M⊕ for denser compositions. For instance, TOI-654 b has a of 8.71 ± 1.25 M⊕ at 2.38 R⊕, exemplifying how mass-radius relations flatten for envelope-dominated planets, where radius becomes a better proxy for composition than alone. This variability underscores the role of atmospheric retention in defining sub-Neptune demographics, with ongoing surveys like TESS and JWST refining these boundaries through improved determinations.

Distinction from super-Earths and mini-Neptunes

Sub-Neptunes are distinguished from super-Earths primarily by the presence of a substantial hydrogen-helium (H/He) envelope, which results in lower overall densities and larger radii for a given core mass. Super-Earths are rocky planets with radii typically ranging from 1 to about 2 radii (R⊕) and masses up to approximately 10 masses (M⊕), composed mainly of silicates and iron with only thin secondary atmospheres lacking significant H/He components. In contrast, sub-Neptunes possess radii between roughly 2 and 4 R⊕ and feature primary atmospheres dominated by H/He gas, often comprising a few percent of the planet's total mass atop a rocky or icy core. This compositional divide manifests observationally as a "radius valley" or gap in the distribution of small sizes, centered around 1.5–2 R⊕, where few planets are found; planets below this gap are predominantly super-Earths, while those above are sub-Neptunes. The radius valley arises from evolutionary processes such as photoevaporation, where stellar radiation strips H/He envelopes from planets near the gap, leaving behind denser s, whereas sub-Neptunes retain their gaseous layers due to more massive cores or different formation histories. can further differentiate the two by measuring atmospheric mean molecular weight: s show higher values indicative of or water-rich compositions, while sub-Neptunes exhibit lower values from H/He dominance. For example, the planet GJ 1214b, with a radius of about 2.7 R⊕, exemplifies a sub-Neptune through its hazy, H/He-rich atmosphere, contrasting with the at 1.4 R⊕. Mini-Neptunes are frequently regarded as synonymous with sub-Neptunes, referring to planets smaller than (3.9 R⊕) but sharing its ice-giant-like structure of a dense core enveloped in H/He gas. Some classifications use "mini-Neptune" more specifically for the upper end of this size range (closer to 3–4 R⊕) with thicker atmospheres, but the terms overlap significantly and both contrast with super-Earths by emphasizing gaseous rather than natures. This terminological flexibility reflects ongoing refinements in categorization based on Kepler and TESS data, where the key separator remains the transition from envelope-free to envelope-bearing worlds.

Physical characteristics

Internal structure

Sub-Neptunes possess a differentiated internal structure dominated by a massive core and a voluminous hydrogen-helium (H/He) envelope. The core typically comprises iron and silicates in a roughly 1:2 , analogous to 's composition, with masses ranging from several to tens of Earth masses (M⊕). This core is often surrounded by a mantle that may include water ice or supercritical fluids, depending on the planet's formation history and thermal state. The envelope, composed primarily of H/He with possible admixtures of heavier elements, constitutes only 1–20% of the total mass but accounts for most of the planet's radius due to its low density and extended . Internal structure models, such as those employing equations of state for high-pressure materials (e.g., ANEOS for silicates and for iron), reveal that the radius of sub-Neptunes serves as a direct proxy for envelope mass fraction, with little dependence on core mass once the envelope exceeds ~1% of total mass. For instance, an fraction of 0.5% yields radii around 2 R⊕, while 5% produces ~3 R⊕, assuming equilibrium profiles and irradiation levels up to 1000 times Earth's insolation. These models incorporate adiabatic interiors with radiative boundaries, highlighting how cooling over gigayears contracts the , reducing radii by up to 30% from young ages (~100 Myr) to mature ones (~10 Gyr). Composition gradients in the , with metallicities up to 20 times solar, can inhibit and form stable layers that slow evolution. Recent observations and coupled atmosphere-interior models indicate compositional diversity beyond the standard H/He envelope paradigm. Some sub-Neptunes may feature water-rich mantles comprising 50% or more of the , potentially forming hycean worlds with thin H₂ atmospheres over global or steam worlds with supercritical H₂O envelopes. High-metallicity envelopes (≥100× solar) or magma ocean interfaces can alter profiles, with iron-silicate cores supporting H/He + H₂O layers in planets like GJ 436 b. However, extreme metallicities (>1000× solar) are often inconsistent with observed (~1.7 g/cm³), favoring moderate enhancements and possible chemical disequilibria. data on targets like K2-18 b constrain these structures, distinguishing gas-rich mini-Neptunes from water-dominated variants through molecular abundances and thermal emissions.

Atmosphere and composition

Sub-Neptunes are characterized by extended hydrogen-helium atmospheres that constitute a significant fraction of their total mass, often ranging from 1% to several percent, enveloping rocky or icy cores. These atmospheres arise primarily from the accretion of nebular gas during formation, leading to a composition dominated by molecular hydrogen (H₂) and helium (He), which mimics the metallicity of the host star in some cases. However, interactions between the atmosphere and the planetary interior, particularly deep magma oceans, can substantially alter this composition by dissolving volatiles and driving chemical equilibria, such as the reaction H₂ + FeO ↔ H₂O + Fe, which increases water (H₂O) abundance or sequesters hydrogen into the mantle. The chemical diversity of sub-Neptune atmospheres spans a continuum from metal-poor, H₂-dominated envelopes to more enriched compositions influenced by or volatile delivery, reflecting varied formation environments inside or outside the . For instance, interior-atmosphere equilibration in with substantial oceans reduces initial from 5–30 wt% to less than 1.5 wt%, resulting in drier atmospheres than models without such interactions would predict, and preventing the formation of distinct H₂O layers due to with H₂. This process decouples atmospheric observables like radius from total volatile mass, with states in the (e.g., 0–48.7 wt% FeO) enabling up to 20-fold variations in volatile inventory for similar sizes. Recent observations with the (JWST) have begun to reveal this diversity through transmission spectroscopy. The hot sub-Neptune TOI-421 b (radius ~2.65 R⊕, equilibrium temperature ~727°C) exhibits a clear, haze-free H₂-dominated atmosphere with confirmed and tentative detections of (CO) and (SO₂), but no (CH₄) or (CO₂), suggesting minimal formation above the haze threshold of ~577°C. Similarly, the temperate sub-Neptune K2-18 b shows signatures of H₂O, CH₄, and CO₂, potentially indicating a volatile-rich with hydrothermal activity or a steam atmosphere. Other examples, like GJ 3090 b, display metal-enriched atmospheres with H₂O, CO₂, and SO₂, possibly from melting water ice, while GJ 9827 d reveals varying H₂O abundances tied to temperature trends. These findings underscore that sub-Neptunes can range from gas dwarfs with low-metallicity H₂/He envelopes to water worlds with H₂O-dominated upper layers, classified by equilibrium temperature into ice worlds (<250 K), hycean worlds (250–350 K), and steam worlds (>350 K). Recent studies as of 2025, including JWST observations of GJ 9827 d as a water-vapor-dominated steam world and analyses suggesting not all sub-Neptunes possess magma oceans, underscore the diversity and ongoing debate in their compositions.

Density and the radius gap

Sub-Neptunes exhibit a characteristic profile that distinguishes them from smaller super-Earths, typically ranging from 1 to 3 g/cm³, reflecting substantial volatile envelopes composed primarily of hydrogen-helium, with possible or other volatile components contributing to diversity. This lower contrasts with the higher values of 5 to 8 g/cm³ observed in super-Earths, which are predominantly rocky cores stripped of atmospheres. The difference arises from the retention of primordial or secondary atmospheres during planetary formation and evolution, allowing sub-Neptunes to maintain gaseous or layers that inflate their radii beyond those of bare rocky worlds. The gap, or radius valley, observed in populations at approximately 1.7 to 1.8 radii (R⊕), correlates strongly with this dichotomy, separating denser super-Earths from less dense sub-Neptunes. This gap manifests as a bimodal distribution in planet radii, with a scarcity of worlds between 1.5 and 2.0 R⊕, attributed to atmospheric loss processes that either strip envelopes entirely—yielding rocky remnants—or preserve them, resulting in expanded sub-Neptunes. For instance, planets retaining even a few percent of their mass in hydrogen-helium atmospheres can double their radius due to the low of these gases, shifting them above the valley. Around M-dwarf host stars, the transition appears more continuous, with sub-Neptunes displaying lower densities (around 1-2 g/cm³ in some cases) compared to those orbiting FGK dwarfs, suggesting variations in envelope retention influenced by stellar irradiation and migration history. Recent analyses propose that a density gap, rather than solely a radius gap, better delineates from water-rich small , particularly for M-dwarf systems, where sub-Neptunes often comprise hybrid compositions of 50% rock and 50% water in supercritical phases. This -based separation implies that many sub-Neptunes are "migrated steam worlds" formed beyond the and subsequently losing hydrogen-helium through photoevaporation, leaving water-dominated envelopes that enhance their low . Formation models incorporating orbital migration and explain this gap, predicting that core masses around 5 to 10 masses (M⊕) mark the threshold where envelope retention becomes viable, leading to the observed sub-Neptune . Such mechanisms highlight how encodes the interplay of accretion, migration, and loss in shaping the sub-Neptune .

Occurrence in exoplanet populations

Prevalence and distribution

Sub-Neptunes, typically defined as exoplanets with radii between approximately 2 and 4 radii, constitute the most common class of close-in planets detected by space-based surveys. Data from NASA's Kepler mission reveal that these planets dominate the population for orbital periods shorter than 150 days, with an occurrence rate of approximately 18% for planets in the 2–4 radii range around Sun-like (FGK) stars with periods less than 50 days. This prevalence underscores their abundance, as Kepler identified thousands of such candidates, representing over half of all confirmed exoplanets smaller than in size. The distribution of sub-Neptunes varies significantly with host star type, showing a strong preference for lower-mass stars. Around M dwarfs, the occurrence rate of small planets (0.5–4 radii) with periods less than 50 days reaches about 0.90 planets per star, roughly 3.5 times higher than for 1–2.8 radii planets around FGK stars. In contrast, around solar-mass FGK stars, the rate for 2–4 radii planets drops to around 0.13 per star for similar periods. NASA's (TESS) has corroborated this trend, detecting hundreds of sub-Neptune candidates primarily around nearby, bright M and K dwarfs, extending the observed distribution to a broader sample of cooler host stars. Sub-Neptunes predominantly occupy short-period orbits, with the vast majority having periods between 1 and 50 days, corresponding to semi-major axes within 0.5 . Occurrence rates increase with up to about 10–20 days before flattening, reflecting detection biases and formation dynamics near the host star. While most detections are within the Milky Way's disk, surveys like Kepler and TESS indicate a uniform galactic distribution, with no strong evidence for or age dependencies in their prevalence among field stars.

Orbital periods and host stars

Sub-Neptunes, defined as exoplanets with radii between approximately 2 and 4 radii, are most commonly detected in short-period orbits, with the majority having orbital periods less than 100 days. Their occurrence rate reflects the sensitivity of transit surveys like Kepler to close-in worlds. This distribution arises partly from observational biases favoring shorter periods, but also from formation and migration processes that place these planets near their host stars. Around Sun-like (G-type) stars, more than half host at least one close-in sub-Neptune, making them one of the most prevalent planet types in the solar neighborhood. These planets often occur in multi-planet systems with compact architectures, where orbital periods cluster in resonant chains, such as the 3:4:6:8 ratios observed in systems like Kepler-223. For cooler host stars, the landscape shifts: M dwarfs exhibit even higher occurrence rates, averaging about 2.5 small planets (including sub-Neptunes) per star within 0.5 AU, driven by enhanced solid accretion in their protoplanetary disks. Recent analyses from TESS and data as of 2025 indicate that short-period sub-Neptune occurrence rates peak around early-type M dwarfs and decline for cooler late-type M dwarfs. Host star plays a key role in sub-Neptune demographics, with higher abundances correlating to increased occurrence, particularly for late-type dwarfs. This trend suggests that metal-rich environments facilitate the rapid formation of massive cores needed for sub-Neptune envelopes. Sub-Neptunes around M stars, such as the TOI-270 system, where two sub-Neptunes (TOI-270 c and ) orbit an M3V dwarf at periods of 11.4 and 37.0 days, respectively, highlight their prevalence in short-period configurations compared to FGK hosts. Overall, while sub-Neptunes orbit a range of spectral types, their frequency rises toward lower-mass, cooler stars, underscoring diverse pathways in planet formation across the galaxy.

Formation and evolution

Core accretion theory

The core accretion theory describes the formation of sub-Neptunes as a two-stage process within a : the initial buildup of a solid core through the aggregation of dust, pebbles, and , followed by the gravitational capture of a hydrogen-helium if the core achieves sufficient mass. This paradigm, originally developed for formation, adapts to sub-Neptunes by predicting that cores of 3–10 masses (M⊕) accrete only modest gaseous envelopes comprising 1–10% of the total mass, preventing the runaway growth seen in Jupiter-like worlds. The efficiency of core growth relies on mechanisms like pebble accretion, where centimeter- to meter-sized particles drift inward due to aerodynamic drag and are rapidly incorporated into the core, enabling masses of several M⊕ to form within a million years—far quicker than classical planetesimal accretion alone. In the pebble accretion framework, sub-Neptune cores typically consist of rock and iron in Earth-like proportions (silicate-to-iron ratio ≈3:1), with mean densities around 5.5 g/cm³, though volatile enrichment (e.g., up to 10 wt%) can occur if formation happens beyond the . Envelope accretion begins once the core exceeds a thermal barrier of ≈5 M⊕, where the Hill allows binding disk gas, but growth halts short of full isolation due to disk evolution or orbital migration. Two primary scenarios explain their locations: an "drift" model, where cores form close to the star from inward-drifting pebbles, yielding volatile-poor worlds; or a "migration" model, where cores assemble farther out and migrate inward, potentially retaining more ices. These processes align with observed mass- relations, where sub-Neptunes exhibit inflated radii from their low-mass envelopes compared to bare cores. Post-formation evolution refines sub-Neptune structures, as of the can lead to contraction or mass loss via mechanisms like /EUV-driven photoevaporation, transforming some into super-Earths and contributing to the radius valley. Models incorporating core cooling timescales of gigayears predict radius enhancements of up to 10% for masses around 3 M⊕, consistent with transit observations of planets like those in the system. Overall, core accretion successfully reproduces the prevalence of sub-Neptunes around FGK stars, emphasizing the role of disk properties in modulating retention.

Mechanisms for the radius valley

The radius valley, a pronounced gap in the distribution of radii between approximately 1.5 and 2 radii (R⊕), separates the populations of super-Earths and sub-Neptunes, particularly among close-in planets orbiting Sun-like stars. This feature, first identified in Kepler data, suggests that evolutionary processes sculpt the observed planetary sizes by preferentially eroding the gaseous envelopes of intermediate-mass planets. Two primary mechanisms—photoevaporation and core-powered mass loss—have emerged as leading explanations for this valley, both involving atmospheric stripping but differing in their energy sources. Formation models, including disk migration and accretion barriers, also contribute by establishing initial bimodal populations that subsequent refines. Photoevaporation posits that intense and from the host star during its early, active phase heats planetary atmospheres, driving hydrodynamic escape of / envelopes. This process is most effective for planets with core masses around 2-5 masses (M⊕) at s shorter than 100 days, where envelope binding energies are low enough for stellar to unbind the gas. As a result, sub-Neptune progenitors lose their outer layers, shrinking to sizes and creating a dearth of planets in the 1.5-2 R⊕ range. Models predict a valley location that slopes negatively with , becoming shallower for cooler host stars with lower irradiation levels, consistent with observations from Kepler and TESS. For instance, around FGK dwarfs, the valley centers near 1.7 R⊕ at 10-day periods, shifting to larger radii at longer periods. In contrast, core-powered mass loss attributes envelope erosion to the planet's internal heat from core formation and cooling, rather than external stellar input. This mechanism relies on the luminosity generated by the contracting rocky core, which powers thermal expansion and hydrodynamic escape of the overlying hydrogen envelope during the planet's first gigayear. It is particularly efficient for planets with envelopes comprising 1-10% of the core mass, leading to complete stripping for those below a critical envelope fraction and retention for thicker ones, thus forming the valley without dependence on stellar type or irradiation history. Simulations show this process alone can reproduce the observed valley depth and width in Kepler data, with the gap emerging as a natural outcome of planet formation where all bodies start with thin envelopes that either survive or are lost based on core cooling rates. Recent analyses favor this model over photoevaporation for explaining the uniformity of the valley across diverse host stars, as it predicts less sensitivity to orbital distance. Formation theories emphasize that the valley may originate from divergent accretion pathways in the protoplanetary disk, amplified by later mass loss. Super-Earths are thought to form as bare rocky cores that accrete minimal gas due to rapid disk dispersal or migration barriers, while sub-Neptunes capture substantial hydrogen/helium envelopes during a phase of disk-driven inward migration. This bifurcation arises near the ice line, where water ice enhances solid accretion, allowing cores to reach runaway gas accretion thresholds before migrating inward. Observational support includes the valley's shallower slope around M dwarfs, where lower disk masses limit envelope growth, and hybrid models combining migration with photoevaporation or core-powered loss to match the sub-Neptune peak at ~3 R⊕. Such processes highlight how initial compositions—rocky versus icy cores—interact with dynamical evolution to shape the final radius distribution.

Discovery and observation

Detection methods

The vast majority of sub-Neptune exoplanets, defined as those with radii between approximately 2 and 4 radii, have been detected through the transit photometry method, which measures the periodic dimming of a host star's light as a passes in front of it. This technique, pioneered by space-based surveys such as NASA's Kepler mission, has identified thousands of such planets by providing precise radius measurements from transit depth, enabling statistical analyses of their size distribution and the notable radius gap near 1.7 radii. Ground- and space-based observatories like TESS () continue this work, focusing on brighter nearby stars to facilitate follow-up observations. Radial velocity measurements complement transit detections by determining planetary masses through the star's wobble induced by gravitational interactions, allowing calculation of mean densities that distinguish sub-Neptunes' hydrogen-rich envelopes from rocky super-Earths. Instruments such as HARPS, HIRES, and on ground-based telescopes have confirmed masses for dozens of transiting sub-Neptunes, revealing densities typically ranging from 1 to 3 g/cm³, indicative of substantial gaseous atmospheres. For non-transiting sub-Neptunes, alone can detect them via minimum mass estimates, though this method is less sensitive to low-mass planets and provides only sin(i) values without direct radius information. Gravitational microlensing has detected a smaller number of cold sub-Neptunes orbiting at greater distances, where transit surveys are ineffective due to long orbital periods. This method exploits the temporary brightening of a background star's when a foreground lens star and its align, sensitive to planets beyond the . Direct imaging and remain challenging and have yielded no confirmed sub-Neptune detections to date, owing to their small sizes, close-in orbits, and low thermal emissions compared to gas giants.

Notable sub-Neptune systems

One of the earliest and most studied sub-Neptunes is , discovered in 2009 via the transit method using the MEarth survey and follow-up observations with the HARPS spectrograph. Orbiting a nearby M-dwarf star 48 light-years away, this planet has a radius of approximately 2.7 radii and a mass about 6.5 times 's, yielding a low density suggestive of a thick hydrogen-helium atmosphere or a water-dominated composition shrouded in haze. Its proximity and frequent transits have made it a benchmark for atmospheric characterization, with subsequent observations by the detecting but limited by opaque aerosols, and data revealing potential and metal-dominated layers beneath the clouds. K2-18 b stands out as a temperate sub-Neptune candidate for studies, detected in 2015 through NASA's K2 mission and confirmed with measurements. Located 124 light-years from around a cool M-dwarf, it has a radius of about 2.6 radii and a mass of roughly 8.6 masses, orbiting in the with an equilibrium temperature near 255 K. Transmission spectroscopy from Hubble and JWST has identified and , and an earlier tentative detection of —a potential —has been questioned by 2025 studies finding no conclusive evidence, indicating a hydrogen-rich envelope possibly overlying a water ocean, though alternative non-biological explanations persist. This system's inner companion, K2-18 c, adds to its interest as a multi-planet setup probing atmospheric diversity. The system, announced in 2023, represents a rare resonant chain of six sub-Neptunes transiting a bright Sun-like star 100 light-years distant, offering insights into compact multi-planet architectures. Detected by the (TESS) and CHEOPS, the planets span orbital periods from 9 to 55 days with radii between 1.94 and 2.85 radii, locked in a 3:2 resonance pattern that stabilizes their orbits and enables precise dynamical modeling. This configuration, the longest known resonant chain, highlights formation processes in protoplanetary disks and serves as a prime target for future atmospheric studies due to the host star's brightness. TOI-270, a nearby M-dwarf system at 73 light-years, features two sub-Neptunes (b and d) alongside a (c), all transiting and discovered by TESS in 2019. The sub-Neptunes have radii of 2.13 and 2.74 Earth radii, respectively, with the outer planet d orbiting at 11.4 days in a near-resonant setup ideal for transit timing variations. JWST observations of TOI-270 d have detected carbon-bearing molecules like and , suggesting a hydrogen-dominated atmosphere with possible , and 2025 studies hint at chemistry; these findings reinforce its status as a key target for understanding sub-Neptune compositions in habitable zones.

Scientific significance

Comparison to Solar System planets

Sub-Neptunes occupy a planetary size regime between approximately 1.7 and 3.5 times the radius of , with masses typically ranging from 2 to 20 masses, a category absent from the Solar System. In contrast, the Solar System's inner terrestrial planets—Mercury, , , and Mars—have radii less than 1.3 times 's and rocky compositions without extended gaseous envelopes, while the outer ice giants, (about 4 radii) and (nearly 4 radii), possess substantial hydrogen-helium atmospheres overlying icy mantles and rocky cores. This leaves a conspicuous "radius gap" in the Solar System, where no planets bridge the divide between these two classes, unlike the exoplanet populations where sub-Neptunes are among the most common. Compositionally, sub-Neptunes often feature hydrogen- and helium-dominated atmospheres that extend their radii, distinguishing them from the thin, CO₂- or N₂-rich atmospheres of terrestrial planets like and . For instance, planets such as , with a radius of about 2.7 radii and a low density of roughly 2 g/cm³, suggest a thick envelope of or that has no direct Solar System counterpart, as and Neptune's denser interiors (around 1.3–1.6 g/cm³) result from deeper ice layers under high pressure. These sub-Neptunes may represent "mini-Neptunes" or water worlds with supercritical fluids, highlighting atmospheric retention processes driven by stellar irradiation that differ from the Solar System's formation dynamics, where such intermediate bodies either accreted more mass or lost envelopes entirely. The absence of sub-Neptune analogs in the Solar System underscores evolutionary divergences, potentially due to Jupiter's migration disrupting the and preventing intermediate-sized from forming or surviving. While Neptune's hydrogen-helium comprises about 20% of its , sub-Neptunes often have envelopes contributing 10–50% by , enabling puffy structures not seen in Solar System giants, which formed farther out and retained more volatiles. Observations from telescopes like JWST reveal diverse sub-Neptune atmospheres with carbon-bearing molecules, contrasting the methane-dominated spectra of and , and emphasizing their role in probing planetary diversity beyond our system.

Potential for habitability

Sub-Neptunes located within the of their host stars offer potential avenues for distinct from terrestrial planets, primarily through models of ocean-dominated worlds. A prominent framework is that of Hycean worlds, which describe temperate sub-Neptunes with deep global oceans of liquid water underlying extended hydrogen-helium atmospheres. These atmospheres provide strong greenhouse warming, expanding the stellar flux range for liquid water stability compared to rocky planets, potentially allowing surface conditions conducive to despite the planet's larger size. Observations of specific candidates, such as —a sub-Neptune orbiting a star in the —have fueled interest in this potential. (JWST) spectra revealed and in its atmosphere, alongside disputed or insufficiently supported detections of , a possible produced by on . These features align with Hycean models, suggesting a water-rich interior beneath a thin H₂ envelope where microbial life could thrive in ocean environments. However, alternative interpretations indicate K2-18b may instead be a gas-rich with a deep, high-pressure atmosphere lacking a solid or liquid surface, rendering traditional metrics inapplicable. As of 2025, analyses of JWST data show no robust evidence for dimethyl sulfide, with spectral features possibly due to noise or other hydrocarbons like . Despite these prospects, significant challenges undermine the of most sub-Neptunes. Thick envelopes often result in extreme internal pressures and temperatures, potentially converting to supercritical fluids or steam atmospheres via runaway greenhouse effects, conditions hostile to known biochemistry. Recent simulations as of 2025 further suggest that sub-Neptunes form with limited inventories due to chemical interactions between primordial atmospheres and molten interiors, challenging the hypothesis and implying drier compositions than previously assumed. Distinguishing habitable configurations from uninhabitable ones requires advanced to probe atmospheric composition and surface reflectivity, with missions like JWST and the future Habitable Worlds Observatory poised to resolve these uncertainties by analyzing nearby candidates.

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