Astronomers Discover a Possible New Dwarf Planet in Our Solar System
Astronomers have identified a potential new dwarf planet, designated ED138, located in the outer reaches of our solar system. The object was discovered using data from the Rubin Observatory and is notable for its size and brightness compared to other trans-Neptunian objects.
Why it matters
The discovery helps scientists better understand the composition and history of the outer solar system and the classification of celestial bodies.
The prospective planet measures somewhere between 600 and 1,500 kilometers in diameter and is located about 46 astronomical units from the sun (an astronomical unit being Earth’s approximate distance from the sun). For comparison, Pluto—which is also now considered a dwarf planet—orbits at an average distance of 40 astronomical units. Based on its location, ED138 belongs to the population of trans-Neptunian objects. According to its discoverers, it could be one of the brightest known objects of this type and also among the largest.
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