Astronomers identify potential dwarf planet candidate 2026 ED138

Astronomers have identified a potential new dwarf planet, designated 2026 ED138, located in the outer solar system beyond the orbit of Pluto.

Discovery of 2026 ED138

The object was identified by astronomer Matthew Holman of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics on October 13, 2026. Holman was using computer software developed with colleague Kevin Napier to search through telescope data when he spotted the object, according to the Vera C. Rubin Observatory.

Holman described his reaction to the discovery as "one of excited disbelief," adding, "Objects like this are very rare, so I immediately started checking whether I or the code had done something wrong."

Physical Characteristics and Location

2026 ED138 is classified as a trans-Neptunian object, meaning it orbits the sun beyond Neptune. Current data regarding the object includes:

• Distance: It is located approximately 4.3 billion miles from the sun. This is farther than Pluto, which orbits at an average distance of about 3.7 billion miles.
• Size: Estimates of the object's diameter range from 370 to 930 miles across, according to the observatory. Another report estimates the diameter falls between 600 and 1500 kilometers.
• Orbit: The object's orbit is tilted at an angle of 25° relative to the plane of the Solar System.

Officials stated the object had not been discovered sooner because it was "hiding in a crowded region of the sky near the Milky Way, where millions of stars made it difficult for earlier telescopes to detect," according to the observatory.

Future Research

Scientists hope to conduct further observations, including infrared observations, to determine the object's exact size and confirm if it qualifies as a dwarf planet. If confirmed, the observatory stated, "ED138 would be among the largest dwarf planets ever discovered in this region of the Solar System."

If validated as a dwarf planet, it would join a group that includes Pluto, Ceres, Eris, Haumea, and Makemake.

Why it matters

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory, which is jointly funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy's Office of Science, began its 10-year survey of the sky in June 2026. The observatory uses the world's largest digital camera to search for previously unseen objects, and researchers believe the facility will continue to find objects missed by earlier surveys.

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Sources

• foxnews.com: New dwarf planet candidate ED138 spotted beyond Pluto by telescope | Fox News
• inkorr.com: Vera Rubin Observatory Discovers Trans-Neptunian Object 2026 ED138 — Dwarf Planet Candidate

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