Possible new dwarf planet found past Neptune

The object, called 2026 ED138 for now, takes about 281 years to circle the Sun; infrared studies should say whether it counts as a planet.

On air: Dale Bearman and Hank Ledger on BBN Newsroom
Published 2:20 PM ET, Wednesday, October 28, 2026

At a glance

First reported by New York Post: “Giant new dwarf planet discovered in our own solar system — hiding in plain sight”, with reporting from Cape and Islands (NPR affiliate), Scientific American, Around Prague (citing ScienceAlert) and NewsBytes.
Covered on BBN on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at 2:20 PM ET on BBN Newsroom, by Dale Bearman and Hank Ledger.

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

New York PostGiant new dwarf planet discovered in our own solar system — hiding in plain sight
Cape and Islands (NPR affiliate)Potential new dwarf planet found by Harvard astrophysicists October 28, 2026 · facts used on air
Scientific AmericanThe Vera C. Rubin Observatory may have just discovered our solar system’s sixth dwarf planet October 28, 2026 · facts used on air
Around Prague (citing ScienceAlert)A Possible Dwarf Planet Was Hiding in Pluto's Neighborhood, and Rubin Just Found It October 28, 2026 · facts used on air
NewsBytesAstronomers discover dwarf planet candidate 2026 ED138 in Kuiper Belt October 28, 2026 · facts used on air

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorAstronomers think they've found a new dwarf planet in the Kuiper Belt, past Neptune, and it was sitting inside the range of distances where Pluto orbits, the New York Post reports.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorInside Pluto's range. For all this time.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorIt's bright enough that very capable amateurs can see it. It just got lost in the glare of the Milky Way.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorSo a hobbyist with a decent telescope had a better chance than the whole profession. And they've used billions of pieces of data to find it.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorIts size is the other problem. Scientists say between six hundred and fifteen hundred kilometers across.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorBetween six hundred and fifteen hundred kilometers is a wide range. That's a whole second planet's worth of wiggle room.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorMatthew Holman says it's either a very reflective object that's smaller or a very dark object that's bigger.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorMy theory: it's been waving for two hundred and eighty-one years, which is one lap around the Sun, and we only just looked up.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorNo name yet, just 2026 ED138. I'd call it Excuse Me.