Astronomers using the Vera C. Rubin Observatory have discovered 2026 ED138, a large trans-Neptunian object that may qualify as a dwarf planet.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
Astronomers at the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile have identified a potential new dwarf planet, provisionally named 2026 ED138. The object is located in the outer solar system and is classified as a trans-Neptunian object.
Matthew Holman, a researcher at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and a member of the observatory’s operations team, identified the object on October 13 while analyzing data collected by Rubin in 2026. Holman used software developed with colleague Kevin Napier to connect separate detections of moving objects.
To confirm the discovery, Holman worked with Mario Jurić, the Rubin Solar System lead scientist and a professor at the University of Washington. Jurić located 20 additional observations in Rubin’s catalogs dating back to March 2026. The team also used archival images from the Dark Energy Camera to find observations dating back to February 2016, allowing researchers to reconstruct more than a decade of the object's trajectory.
Preliminary estimates suggest 2026 ED138 has a diameter between 600 and 1,500 kilometers (373 to 932 miles). While astronomers have not yet confirmed its size precisely, the object is located approximately 46 astronomical units from the sun. For comparison, Pluto orbits at an average distance of 40 astronomical units.
According to the Minor Planet Center, 2026 ED138 takes approximately 281 years to complete one orbit. Its orbit is tilted by approximately 24.5 degrees relative to the plane of the solar system.
Astronomers are working to determine if 2026 ED138 meets the criteria for a dwarf planet. According to the International Astronomical Union, a dwarf planet must:
If confirmed, 2026 ED138 would join the five currently recognized dwarf planets: Ceres, Pluto, Haumea, Makemake, and Eris.
The discovery was made possible by the Vera C. Rubin Observatory's ability to detect faint objects against the bright background of the Milky Way. The object had previously been difficult to distinguish because its position in the night sky was against the disk of the Milky Way, which contains millions of stars.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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