Possible new dwarf planet identified orbiting beyond Pluto
The icy world could be one of the largest outer solar system objects found in about 20 years, researchers said.
- On Tuesday, astronomers at the Vera C. Rubin Observatory announced the discovery of dwarf planet candidate 2026 ED138 at the 59th Annual Division for Planetary Sciences meeting in Spokane, Washington.
- Hidden within the crowded, star-filled Milky Way, the object avoided detection until astronomers at the Center For Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian identified it using Rubin Observatory data.
- Initial measurements indicate 2026 ED138 spans 600 to 1,500 kilometers in diameter and orbits roughly 46 astronomical units from the Sun, placing it farther than Pluto.
- Additional observations are required to determine if ED138 has sufficient mass to be spherical, a key requirement for dwarf planet classification despite its large size.
- Rubin will scan the southern sky for 10 years, providing researchers unprecedented capacity to discover and 'precover' distant solar system objects hidden in regions earlier surveys missed.
151 Articles
151 Articles
World's largest digital camera snaps new world beyond Pluto
Space was so much simpler when I was a kid. Back in the 1980s, we still hoped to find habitable planets around every star. Nine planets orbited our own Sun. And “dwarf planet” sounded like a Saturday morning cartoon begging for its own toy line.Continue ReadingCategory: Astronomy, ScienceTags: Dwarf planet, Camera, Observatory, Vera C. Rubin Observatory
The object, now known as 2026 ED138, is one of the first discoveries of the new Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile
Scientists discover massive new dwarf planet near Pluto
Pluto may have a new neighbor that could change what we know about the outer solar system. Scientists have identified a massive dwarf planet candidate far beyond Neptune that could be one of the largest known objects in this distant region. The discovery offers a glimpse into a largely unexplored part of our solar system, […] Read the original article here: Scientists discover massive new dwarf planet near Pluto
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