What Vera Rubin observatory’s first new dwarf planet means

Some are clamoring to make it the Solar System's 6th official dwarf planet. They'll be shocked to learn how rich our own backyard truly is.

November 2, 2026

This view of the Solar System shows the eight major planets of the system along with the newly discovered classical Trans-Neptunian object 2026 ED138, discovered with data from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory. The dwarf planet's position is shown on May 8, 2026.

Credit : NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory/NOIRLab/SLAC/AURA/R. Proctor; Processing: M. Zamani (NSF NOIRLab)

There are currently five officially recognized IAU dwarf planets: Ceres, Pluto, Eris, Makemake, and Haumea. They all orbit the Sun, aren’t a moon, have reached hydrostatic equilibrium, but haven’t cleared their orbits.

The Vera C.…