The atmospheric composition of TOI-270 d

¹ Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HA, UK
² Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA

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Received: 10 September 2024
Accepted: 6 October 2025

Abstract

The first explorations of temperate sub-Neptune exoplanets have been the hallmark of early JWST observations. The bulk properties of such planets are consistent with a range of possible internal structures, which can be distinguished through their interactions with the observable atmospheres. JWST observations of TOI-270 d, a temperate sub-Neptune, have previously led to contrasting conclusions: either a Hycean world, possessing a liquid water ocean, or a mixed-envelope sub-Neptune, where high temperatures prevent a liquid ocean and lead to a high mean molecular weight atmosphere. In order to resolve this uncertainty, we present a comprehensive retrieval analysis of TOI-270 d using recent NIRISS and NIRSpec transit spectroscopy across ∼1–5 µm. We find that prior inferences of a mixed envelope were affected by specific modelling choices leading to a high terminator temperature and high mean-molecular weight in the atmosphere. We confirm an H₂-rich atmosphere in TOI-270 d and present revised constraints on the molecular log-mixing ratios and maximal detection significances of −1.86_−0.29^+0.30 (6.4σ) CO₂ at −1.71_−0.66^+0.38 (3.9σ), H₂O at .−1.88_−4.13^+0.78(2.1σ) and CS₂ at −4.74_−1.10^+0.65(2.0σ), with a terminator temperature of 323₋₅₂⁺⁵⁸ K at 10 mbar.We also find tentative evidence for more complex methyl-bearing species such as C2H6 and/or DMS at a 2.1–2.5 σ level. The present constraints are consistent with TOI-270 d being a Hycean or dark Hycean world, with planet-wide or nightside liquid water oceans. However, more observations are required to verify the present findings and robustly constrain the atmospheric conditions and internal structure of TOI-270 d.