Astronomer's from the Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope (LCOGT) has observed Rayleigh scattering on the Neptune sized planet known as GJ 3470b. The planet orbits a Red Dwarf star and is 100 light years away, minuscule by astronomical standards. The finding is not only significant because it is the smallest exoplanet for which Rayleigh scattering has been demonstrated but also because measurements indicate a thick-hydrogen rich atmosphere beneath the blue haze. But the most significant detail of this discovery is the tools that's were used; It is the first unambiguous spectroscopic feature in the an exoplanet's atmosphere to be done with small telescopes which are 1-2 meters in diameter. This discovery demonstrates the utility of small telescopes which may help reduce the cost-to-data ratio of astronomical endeavors in the future.Sources:
http://arxiv.org/abs/1511.05601
https://astronomynow.com/2015/11/27/a-blue-neptune-sized-exoplanet-around-a-red-dwarf-star/
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