Sub-Neptune

The term sub-Neptune can refer to a planet with a smaller radius than Neptune even though it may have a larger mass[1] or to a planet with a smaller mass than Neptune even though it may have a larger radius like a super-puff and both meanings can even be used in the same publication.[2] Neptune-like planets are considerably rarer than sub-Neptune sized planets, despite being only slightly bigger.[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.[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🜨.
Mini-NeptuneNeptunesuper-puffHD 110067Super-EarthMega-EarthNatureSciencePlanetDefinitionPlanetary scienceExoplanetExoplanet orbital and physical parametersMethods of detecting exoplanetsPlanetary systemPlanet-hosting starsTerrestrialCarbon planetCoreless planetDesert planetDwarf planetHycean planetIce planetIron planetLava planetOcean worldSub-EarthGaseousEccentric JupiterHelium planetHot JupiterHot NeptuneGas giantIce giantSuper-JupiterSuper-NeptuneUltra-hot JupiterUltra-hot NeptuneBlanetBrown dwarfChthonian planetCircumbinary planetCircumtriple planetDisrupted planetDouble planetEcumenopolisEyeball planetGiant planetMesoplanetPlanemoPlanetesimalProtoplanetPulsar planetSub-brown dwarfToroidal planetUltra-cool dwarfUltra-short period planet (USP)Formation and evolutionAccretionAccretion diskAsteroid beltCircumplanetary diskCircumstellar discCircumstellar envelopeCosmic dustDebris diskDetached objectExozodiacal dustExtraterrestrial materialsExtraterrestrial sample curationGiant-impact hypothesisGravitational collapseHills cloudInternal structureInterplanetary dust cloudInterplanetary mediumInterplanetary spaceInterstellar cloudInterstellar dustInterstellar mediumKuiper beltList of interstellar and circumstellar moleculesMolecular cloudNebular hypothesisOort cloudOuter spacePlanetary migrationProtoplanetary diskRing systemRubble pileSample-return missionScattered discStar formationSystemsExocometInterstellarExomoonTidally detachedRogue planetPulsarDetectionAstrometryMicrolensingPolarimetryRadial velocityTransit-timing variationHabitabilityAstrobiologyAstrooceanographyCircumstellar habitable zoneEarth analogExtraterrestrial liquid waterGalactic habitable zoneHabitability of binary star systemsHabitability of F-type main-sequence star systemsHabitability of K-type main-sequence star systemsHabitability of natural satellitesHabitability of neutron star systemsHabitability of red dwarf systemsHabitability of yellow dwarf systemsHabitable zone for complex lifeList of potentially habitable exoplanetsTholinSuperhabitable planetNearby Habitable SystemsExoplanet Data ExplorerExtrasolar Planets EncyclopaediaNASA Exoplanet ArchiveNASA Star and Exoplanet DatabaseOpen Exoplanet CatalogueHost starsMultiplanetary systemsStars with proto-planetary discsExoplanetsDiscoveriesExtremesFirstsNearestLargestHeaviestTerrestrial candidatesKeplerPotentially habitableProper namesbefore 20002000–2009Carl Sagan InstituteExoplanet naming conventionExoplanetary Circumstellar Environments and Disk ExplorerExtragalactic planetExtrasolar planets in fictionGeodynamics of terrestrial exoplanetsNeptunian desertNexus for Exoplanet System ScienceSmall planet radius gapSudarsky's gas giant classificationDiscoveries of exoplanetsSearch projects