Icy Object Spotted Beyond Pluto Emerges as New Dwarf Planet Candidate in the Solar System's Outskirts
Learn about 2026 ED138, a new dwarf planet candidate that may be one of the largest and brightest objects discovered beyond Pluto's orbit.
Astronomers have discovered a new icy object beyond Pluto, which may be the largest and brightest dwarf planet candidate in our solar system's outskirts. The object, called 2026 ED138, was found by the Vera C. Rubin Observatory while searching for distant moving objects. If confirmed, ED138 would bring the total number of dwarf planets in the solar system to six, joining Pluto, Ceres, Eris, Haumea, and Makemake.
With an estimated size of 600 to 1,500 kilometers, ED138 would be the largest trans-Neptunian object discovered in about 20 years. Further observations are required to confirm its distance, brightness, and size, but if it meets the criteria for a dwarf planet, it could soon be recognized as such.
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- Rubin Observatory reveals its first dwarf planet candidate in our solar system phys.org
- The Rubin Observatory Finds Its First Dwarf Planet Candidate universetoday.com
- New Vera C. Rubin telescope spots possible new dwarf planet beyond Pluto cbc.ca
- The Vera C. Rubin Observatory may have just discovered our solar system’s sixth dwarf planet scientificamerican.com
