Astronomers identify potential new dwarf planet 2026 ED138

Astronomers using the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile have identified a potential new dwarf planet, provisionally named 2026 ED138. Located in the trans-Neptunian region, the object orbits the Sun at approximately 46 astronomical units, further out than Pluto’s average distance of 40 astronomical units.

Initial estimates suggest the object has a diameter between 600 and 1,500 kilometers, making it potentially one of the largest and brightest objects in its class. If its physical size and spherical shape are confirmed through further observations, it could become the sixth recognized dwarf planet in the solar system, joining Pluto, Ceres, Eris, Haumea, and Makemake.

The discovery was made by Matthew Holman of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics while analyzing data from the observatory. The team was able to reconstruct the object's trajectory over a decade by combining new observations with archived data dating back to 2016. Researchers noted that the object likely remained undetected for so long because it is positioned against the dense star field of the Milky Way.