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Rubin Observatory Spots Potential Dwarf Planet ED138

By Drooid · Oct 29, 2026 · How we work

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Summary

Chile’s Vera C. Rubin Observatory discovered icy object 2026 ED138 that may become a dwarf planet.
Researchers estimate 2026 ED138’s diameter between 600 and 1,500 km (370–930 miles).
The object orbits roughly 46 times farther from the Sun than Earth, beyond Pluto’s average distance.
Matt Holman said size must be measured to confirm dwarf-planet status.
If confirmed, 2026 ED138 would join five IAU dwarf planets and rank among the largest.

Summary

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory began its 10-year Legacy Survey of Space and Time on 30 June 2026.
Rubin’s camera will generate about 30 million gigabytes of data during the decade.
Researchers submitted roughly 1 million observations, including 11 000 new asteroids and hundreds of distant objects, to the Minor Planet Center.
The IAU will name ED138 only after dwarf-planet confirmation, a process that may take years.

History

After Clyde Tombaugh identified Pluto in February 1930, later Kuiper-belt surveys from 1992 revealed dozens of similar bodies, and the 2005 discovery of Eris spurred the International Astronomical Union’s August 2006 redefinition that demoted Pluto to a dwarf planet. The Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time, launching 30 June 2026, will extend that catalog, potentially adding objects like 2026 ED138.

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After Clyde Tombaugh identified Pluto in February 1930, later Kuiper-belt surveys from 1992 revealed dozens of similar bodies, and the 2005 discovery of Eris spurred the International Astronomical Union’s August 2006 redefinition that demoted Pluto to a dwarf planet. The Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time, launching 30 June 2026, will extend that catalog, potentially adding objects like 2026 ED138.

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