Nick Castro
@nickcastr0
· Oct 28
Is there a new dwarf planet beyond Pluto?Probably. Astronomers have spotted an object designated 2026 ED138 that looks like a dwarf planet, and it's one of the first discoveries from the newly operational Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile.What happened: The object, known for now as 2026 ED138, turned up in early survey data from the Rubin Observatory, which has just begun scanning the southern sky from Cerro Pachón in Chile. Its size and brightness hint at a round, Pluto-class body, though the dwarf planet label still needs confirmation. It is among the first finds from a telescope built specifically to catch faint, faraway things.Key numbers: 2026 ED138 is a provisional designation, meaning it was discovered in 2026Rubin's 8.4-meter mirror is the largest ever built for a survey telescopeRubin is expected to generate around 10 million alerts per nightWhy it matters: A working Rubin survey could expand the outer solar system's roll call quickly, and each new dwarf planet is a frozen time capsule from the solar system's construction.Bottom line: Pluto may soon have to start taking names.
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