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Astronomers have identified 2026 ED138, a large trans-Neptunian object that may be a dwarf planet located approximately 4.3 billion miles from the sun.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
Astronomers have identified a potential new dwarf planet, designated 2026 ED138, located in the outer reaches of the solar system. The discovery was announced on October 27, 2026, following observations from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, a facility in Chile jointly funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy's Office of Science.
On October 13, 2026, astronomer Matthew Holman identified the object while using custom computer software to search through telescope data collected earlier in the year. Holman, an astrophysicist at the Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Massachusetts, developed the code with colleague Kevin Napier to examine billions of detections of moving celestial bodies.
According to the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, the object's brightness and distance indicate it is "unusually large." Current estimates regarding its size and distance include:
Data from the observatory shows that 2026 ED138 has an orbit tilted by nearly 25 degrees away from the plane of the solar system. This classification as a "hot-classical TNO" suggests the object may have been moved from its original orbit due to gravitational interactions with Neptune.
Regarding its composition, Mario Jurić, the Rubin Solar System Lead Scientist, stated that the object is "quite red," which may indicate an "icy surface darkened by organic material."
While the object has been identified, scientists must conduct further observations to confirm its exact size and determine if it meets the official definition of a dwarf planet. To be classified as a dwarf planet by the International Astronomical Union, an object must orbit the sun, be massive enough for its own gravity to pull it into a round shape, and have an orbit clear of other similar objects.
If confirmed, 2026 ED138 would join a group of five recognized dwarf planets: Pluto, Ceres, Eris, Haumea, and Makemake. Astronomers are looking toward the James Webb Space Telescope to provide infrared observations to help constrain the object's size and nature.
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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