GoKawiilRubin Observatory spots distant object 2026 ED138, a possible sixth dwarf planet
Astronomers using the Vera C. Rubin Observatory have identified a trans-Neptunian object called 2026 ED138, located about 46 times farther from the Sun than Earth and estimated at 600 to 1,500 kilometers wide. Researchers Matthew Holman and Kevin Napier found it using a new search code, then traced additional sightings back to 2016 to map its orbit, which is tilted roughly 25 degrees from the solar system's plane.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
If follow-up observations confirm the object is massive enough to have pulled itself into a round shape, it would become the sixth officially recognized dwarf planet, expanding scientists' catalog of the solar system's distant bodies. Its steep orbital tilt could offer further evidence, as some astronomers suggest, of long-term gravitational disruption by Neptune shaping the outer solar system. The discovery also demonstrates the power of Rubin's new search techniques to find large objects hidden in crowded star fields.
- 2026 ED138 was found via Rubin Observatory data combined with a new search code from Harvard-Smithsonian astronomers.
- The object sits about 46 times farther from the Sun than Earth, beyond Pluto's distance, with a 25-degree orbital tilt.
- Confirmation as a dwarf planet requires proof it is massive enough to be round, pending further observation.
Celestron NexStar 8SE Telescope — If stories about new dwarf planets beyond Neptune get you excited about the night sky, a capable telescope like the NexStar 8SE lets you explore the solar system yourself, from lunar craters to planetary rings. Its computerized mount makes locating celestial objects easy, turning curiosity sparked by discoveries like 2026 ED138 into real stargazing sessions in your own backyard.
See Celestron NexStar 8SE Telescope on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: science.slashdot.org, 2026-10-28
Published there as: “Astronomers May Have Just Discovered Our Solar System's Sixth Dwarf Planet”
Read the original report → The summary and analysis above are GoKawiil's own, written from reporting by the source above. Facts and quotes belong to the original publisher.