Astronomers Stunned by a Hidden Dwarf Planet Beyond Pluto
Astronomers have found strong evidence of a celestial object that is likely to be a new dwarf planet orbiting in the most distant reaches of the Solar System, beyond Pluto, CNBC Indonesia reported on Thursday (29 October 2026).
The object was detected in the Kuiper Belt, a region beyond Neptune’s orbit filled with icy bodies, including Pluto and several other dwarf planets. Initial observations suggest that it has the characteristics of a dwarf planet, although further measurements are needed to determine its size, shape and orbital path accurately.
If confirmed, the discovery would add to the known dwarf planets, including Pluto, Eris, Haumea, Makemake and Ceres. It could also help scientists understand how the Solar System formed and evolved, as well as what lies in its distant outer reaches, which remain largely unmapped.
Researchers are continuing to track the object to establish whether its orbit is stable and lies entirely beyond Neptune, how large it is, and whether other similar objects remain undiscovered nearby.
The finding is a reminder that the Solar System still holds many secrets. Its most distant regions are also the least studied, and there may be other intriguing objects waiting to be found.
The new dwarf planet was discovered by the Vera C. Rubin Observatory. Its diameter is estimated to be between 600 and 1,500 kilometres. Scientists have named the object 2026 ED138.
The dwarf planet is located between the Sun and Pluto, but had not previously been detected.
“My first reaction was disbelief. Objects like this are very rare, so I immediately checked whether I had made a mistake,” said astrophysicist Matthew Holman of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.
According to Science Alert, several factors explain why the planet had not been found before.
It is so far from the Sun that it reflects very little light. Detection using infrared light is also very difficult because of its low temperature.
Its changing position means the object can only be detected if a telescope is pointed in the right direction at the right time. In addition, its orbit beyond Neptune follows an unusual angle, rather than lying in a “flat circle” like the orbits of other planets in the Solar System.
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory was able to capture the hidden planet because it is equipped with a digital camera designed specifically for astronomical observations. The camera continuously captures objects in the southern sky that had previously gone undetected.