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Gas-depleted planet formation occurred in the...
Journal article

Gas-depleted planet formation occurred in the four-planet system around the red dwarf LHS 1903

Abstract

The radii of small exoplanets form two populations, super-Earths and sub-Neptunes, separated by a gap known as the radius valley. This feature could be produced by the removal of atmospheres by stellar or internal heating or by the lack of an initial envelope. We used transit photometry and radial velocity measurements to detect and characterize four exoplanets orbiting LHS 1903, a red dwarf star in the Milky Way's thick disk. These four planets have orbital periods ranging from 2.2 to 29.3 days and span the radius valley within a single planetary system. The derived densities indicate that LHS 1903 b is rocky, whereas LHS 1903 c and LHS 1903 d have extended atmospheres. The most distant planet from the host star, LHS 1903 e, has no gaseous envelope, indicating that it formed from gas-depleted material.

Authors

Wilson TG; Simpson AM; Collier Cameron A; Cloutier R; Adibekyan V; John AA; Alibert Y; Stalport M; Egger JA; Bonfanti A

Journal

Science, Vol. 392, No. 6795,

Publisher

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Publication Date

April 16, 2026

DOI

10.1126/science.adl2348

ISSN

0036-8075

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