POSSIBLE DWARF PLANET! Rubin Observatory finds mysterious object beyond Pluto among millions of stars

NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory has found a possible dwarf planet beyond Pluto, the observatory said on October 27, 2026. The object, provisionally named 2026 ED138, is about 46 astronomical units (about 4.3 billion miles) from the Sun, compared with Pluto’s average of 40 astronomical units. Rubin’s team estimates it is between about 370 and 930 miles across, and icy bodies that large are expected to be round. Matthew Holman of the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian found it while searching Rubin data collected between March and July 2026. If confirmed, it would join Pluto, Ceres, Eris, Haumea, and Makemake. Video Credit: NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory/NOIRLab/SLAC/AURA/R. Proctor