Possible new dwarf planet identified orbiting beyond Pluto - Reuters

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• Possible new dwarf planet identified orbiting beyond Pluto

  Astronomers detected the distant icy object, designated 2026 ED138, using the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile. If verified, the celestial body would expand the official roster of recognized dwarf planets beyond the current five. Confirmation hinges on follow-up observations to measure its physical mass, shape, and emitted light.

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• 11-foot metal object found in Minnesota cornfield may be Chinese rocket debris

  Federal and state investigators intervened after local authorities determined that a massive charred component found in Scott Township did not originate from agricultural machinery. Analysts suspect the fragment stems from an upper rocket stage operated by Chinese firm LandSpace that deployed ten satellites in mid-September. The discovery highlights ongoing international concerns regarding falling orbital hardware and the legal liabilities governing space debris.

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• Here’s Virgin Galactic’s new Apeiron spaceship

  Aerospace engineers are relocating the newly unveiled Delta-class vehicle to Spaceport America in New Mexico to conclude vital avionics software integration and flight testing. The program faces a revised commercial launch target of mid-2027, stretching an operational hiatus that began following the retirement of its predecessor.

  1 min read