Rubin telescope spots possible dwarf planet in outer solar system

Hear this story Astronomers discovered a possible new dwarf planet, designated 2026 ED138, orbiting beyond Pluto. The object was spotted by the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile, which recently began a 10-year mission. Initial analysis suggests it may be one of the largest and brightest objects found in that region of the solar system. If confirmed, it would join the five officially recognized dwarf planets, including Pluto. An object orbiting well beyond the reaches of Pluto may not only be the latest dwarf planet discovered in Earth's solar system , but it may be the largest and brightest object yet spotted in its region.

So, why did it take so long for astronomers to make such a tantalizing find? Well, the discovery came just a few months after a ground telescope in Chile embarked on a 10-year mission promising to unlock the secrets of the cosmos .