Astronomers discovered a 1000 km icy body, 2026 ED138, orbiting 6.45 billion km from the Sun, revealing new secrets of the Solar System's distant past.
Frozen celestial body discovered
Astronomers using the 8-meter telescope at the Vera Rubin Observatory in Chile have discovered a frozen celestial body with a diameter of about 1000 km. This object, provisionally named 2026 ED138, is believed to be a remnant from the early, chaotic history of the Solar System.Location and orbit of the object
The newly discovered object orbits the Sun on average 6.45 billion kilometers away, placing it far beyond the orbit of Neptune. This distance highlights the vast, unexplored regions of the Solar System that still hold mysteries.Discovery timeline and challenges
The object was photographed multiple times between March 4 and July 11, 2026, before the telescope had to close due to poor weather conditions linked to the El Niño climate phenomenon. These observations were crucial in confirming the object’s existence and characteristics.Distinction from the ninth planet
While 2026 ED138 is a significant discovery, it is not the hypothetical ninth planet that some scientists believe exists in the distant reaches of the Solar System. The new object is much closer to the Sun than the theorized ninth planet would be.
