{
  "id": 16925734,
  "title": "Astronomers Spot Mysterious Object Lurking Beyond Pluto",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/astronomers-spot-mysterious-object-lurking-beyond-pluto",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-28T15:39:20.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Futurism",
    "slug": "futurism",
    "url": "https://futurism.com/space/astronomers-spot-mysterious-object-lurking-beyond-pluto"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Astronomers have discovered a mysterious object lurking beyond Pluto, potentially marking a new planetary neighbor for our solar system. Located 4.3 billion miles from the Sun, or about 46 times farther than Earth, the dwarf planet candidate, tentatively named 2026 ED138, was first observed by astronomers at the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile. If confirmed, this addition to dwarf planet classification by the International Astronomical Union in 2006 will be the first since its establishment. Astrophysicist Matthew Holman expressed disbelief upon initial observation, emphasizing the rarity of such objects. With a diameter estimated between 370 and 930 miles, 2026 ED138 is classified as a moderately sized dwarf planet, slightly smaller than Pluto and Eris. However, to be confirmed as a dwarf planet, it must demonstrate sufficient mass and gravity to assume a spherical shape, differentiating it from large asteroids. The object's orbit, tilted 25 degrees from the solar system's orbital plane, presents a diagonal path around the Sun compared to other planets. This discovery highlights the capabilities of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, which employs a 3.2-gigapixel camera to scan the night sky. The Rubin Observatory's non-stop monitoring enabled astronomers to detect 2026 ED138 using computer software, identifying its orbital pattern and subsequently locating it in images from other telescopes. Despite its potential impact on our understanding of the solar system, experts caution that the discovery does not substantiate the existence of Planet Nine, a hypothetical large planet in the outer solar system. Nevertheless, it underscores the ability to uncover hidden celestial bodies and the vast possibilities yet to be discovered in our cosmic neighborhood.",
  "summary": "A new, undiscovered neighbor? The post Astronomers Spot Mysterious Object Lurking Beyond Pluto appeared first on Futurism .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}