GoKawiilRubin Observatory data reveals candidate dwarf planet ED138
Harvard-Smithsonian researcher Matthew Holman spotted a trans-Neptunian object, designated ED138, on October 13 while reviewing 2026 data from the Rubin Observatory. Follow-up analysis of archival images traced the object's path back more than a decade to 2016, though its exact size and shape remain unconfirmed.
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ED138's position against the dense star field of the Milky Way had likely obscured it from earlier surveys, suggesting Rubin's scale of data collection could reveal more hidden solar system objects. Astronomers say confirming ED138 as a dwarf planet requires verifying its size is sufficient for a near-spherical shape, which would make it the sixth recognized by the IAU alongside dozens of other candidates still awaiting classification.
- ED138 was found via Rubin Observatory data by researcher Matthew Holman on October 13
- Its orbit has been traced back over a decade using archival images from 2016
- Confirmation as a dwarf planet depends on measuring its size and shape more precisely
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Published there as: “Astronomers Discover a Possible New Dwarf Planet in Our Solar System”
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