L 98-59 f
L 98-59 f 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 2025 using the radial velocity method. It orbits within the habitable zone of its star — the region where liquid water could exist on a planet's surface.
Is L 98-59 f in the Habitable Zone?
L 98-59 f orbits within the optimistic habitable zone of L 98-59 — the broader region where liquid water might be possible under favorable atmospheric conditions.
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.
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Temperature on L 98-59 f
The equilibrium temperature of L 98-59 f is about 285 K (12 °C) — in a range broadly comparable to Earth, whose equilibrium temperature is 255 K. This estimate ignores any atmosphere, which could change surface temperatures dramatically — Earth's greenhouse effect adds about 33 °C. It receives 1.10 times the stellar energy that Earth gets from the Sun.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on L 98-59 f — one full orbit around L 98-59 — lasts 23.1 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.105 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun. Its orbit is nearly circular (eccentricity 0.044).
How Was L 98-59 f Discovered?
L 98-59 f was discovered in 2025 using the radial velocity method, with observations from Multiple Facilities.
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 f?
L 98-59 f 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.
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 f is one of 5 known planets in the L 98-59 system. Its siblings:
L 98-59 f — Complete Data
| Mass (best estimate) | 2.80 Earth masses |
|---|---|
| Density | 5.00 g/cm³ (Earth: 5.51) |
| Orbital period | 23.06 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.105 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.044 |
| Equilibrium temperature | 285 K (12 °C) |
| Stellar irradiation | 1.10× Earth |
| Distance from Earth | 34.6 light-years (10.6 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Volans |
| Discovery method | Radial Velocity |
| Discovery facility | Multiple Facilities |
| Discovery year | 2025 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2025-07-29. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About L 98-59 f
Is L 98-59 f habitable?
L 98-59 f orbits within the habitable zone of L 98-59, the region where liquid water could exist on a planet's surface. Whether it is actually habitable depends on its atmosphere and composition, which remain unknown.
How far away is L 98-59 f?
L 98-59 f 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 f?
One orbit around L 98-59 takes 23.1 Earth days — short enough that 16 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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