Discovery of icy object beyond Pluto could be classified as dwarf planet if observations are confirmed
Astronomers observed the object 2026 ED138 at about 46 astronomical units; initial size estimates range from 600 to 1,500 km and it may have enough mass to be nearly spherical, but confirmation is ongoing.
Astronomers have detected a new icy object in the distant regions of the solar system that could join the list of dwarf planets if subsequent observations confirm its size and properties.
The object, designated 2026 ED138, was discovered using the Vera Rubin Observatory in Chile. Its preliminary size is estimated to range between 600 and 1,500 kilometers, and it lies at a distance of about 46 times the distance between Earth and the Sun (about 46 astronomical units), compared with Pluto’s average orbital distance of about 40 AU.
Researchers indicated that current data suggest 2026 ED138 may have enough mass for its gravity to shape it into a near-spherical body, which is one of the criteria required for classification as a dwarf planet. However, the exact size and composition of the object remain undecided and require additional observations.
Astrophysicist Matt Holman said that the detection of this object is an indication that observatories like Vera Rubin can find faint bodies in the distant solar system. Measurements at longer wavelengths, using observatories such as ALMA, are expected to help estimate the object’s true size and clarify its composition.
If 2026 ED138 is confirmed as a dwarf planet, it would be added to the known list of such objects, including Pluto, Ceres, Eris, Haumea and Makemake.
