L 98-59 e
L 98-59 e is a super-Earth orbiting the M3 V star L 98-59 in the constellation Volans. It lies about 35 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2021 using the radial velocity method.
Is L 98-59 e in the Habitable Zone?
L 98-59 e orbits inside the inner edge of the habitable zone of L 98-59. So close to its star, surface conditions are far too hot for liquid water.
Habitable zone of L 98-59: 0.090–0.236 AU (conservative: 0.115–0.223 AU), per Kopparapu et al. (2014). Earth orbits the Sun at 1 AU.
See the full interactive habitable-zone view in the Exoplanet Explorer app ›
Temperature on L 98-59 e
The equilibrium temperature of L 98-59 e is about 347 K (74 °C) — hotter than anywhere on Earth. This estimate ignores any atmosphere, which could change surface temperatures dramatically — Earth's greenhouse effect adds about 33 °C. It receives 2.40 times the stellar energy that Earth gets from the Sun.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on L 98-59 e — one full orbit around L 98-59 — lasts 12.8 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.071 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun. Its orbit is nearly circular (eccentricity 0.012).
How Was L 98-59 e Discovered?
L 98-59 e was discovered in 2021 using the radial velocity method, with observations from Multiple Observatories.
The radial velocity method measures the subtle wobble of a star caused by the gravitational pull of an orbiting planet, visible as periodic shifts in the star's light spectrum. The size of the wobble reveals the planet's minimum mass.
How Far Away Is L 98-59 e?
L 98-59 e is 34.6 light-years (10.6 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1992. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 608,960 years to make the journey.
Earth Similarity Index
The Earth Similarity Index (ESI) scores how physically similar a planet is to Earth, from 0 to 1, based on radius, density, escape velocity and surface temperature. L 98-59 e scores 0.69, ranking #66 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: L 98-59
L 98-59
- Spectral type
- M3 V
- Surface temperature
- 3,415 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.29 M☉
- Radius
- 0.32 R☉
- Luminosity
- 0.0122 L☉
- Age
- 4.9 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
The L 98-59 Planetary System
L 98-59 e is one of 5 known planets in the L 98-59 system. Its siblings:
L 98-59 e — Complete Data
| Mass (best estimate) | 2.82 Earth masses |
|---|---|
| Density | 5.20 g/cm³ (Earth: 5.51) |
| Orbital period | 12.83 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.071 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.012 |
| Equilibrium temperature | 347 K (74 °C) |
| Stellar irradiation | 2.40× Earth |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.69 |
| Distance from Earth | 34.6 light-years (10.6 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Volans |
| Discovery method | Radial Velocity |
| Discovery facility | Multiple Observatories |
| Discovery year | 2021 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2025-07-29. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About L 98-59 e
Is L 98-59 e habitable?
No — L 98-59 e orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is L 98-59 e?
L 98-59 e is about 35 light-years from Earth in the constellation Volans. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 608,960 years to get there.
How long is a year on L 98-59 e?
One orbit around L 98-59 takes 12.8 Earth days — short enough that 28 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
Explore L 98-59 e in the app
Browse, filter and compare 6,000+ exoplanets on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch — with habitable-zone views, widgets and offline data.
