First spotted by Harvard & Smithsonian astrophysicist Matt Holman, the object designated 2026 ED138 is estimated to measure between 600 and 1,500 kilometers across. Current observations only capture reflected sunlight, leaving ambiguity over whether the body is exceptionally reflective or physically larger and darker. To resolve this, researchers intend to observe the object with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array to capture its direct light emissions. Official confirmation would allow the body to join the International Astronomical Union's list of recognized dwarf planets.
Key points
Classification as an official dwarf planet requires an astronomical body to pull itself i…: Classification as an official dwarf planet requires an astronomical body to pull itself into a nearly round shape via its own gravity.
If verified by the International Astronomical Union, the object would join five establish…: If verified by the International Astronomical Union, the object would join five established dwarf planets including Ceres and Pluto.
The Vera C Rubin Observatory detection was officially announced during a scientific gathe…: The Vera C Rubin Observatory detection was officially announced during a scientific gathering held in Spokane, Washington.
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For years, Pluto held a place among the solar system’s nine planets, until its status changed in 2006. Now, a newly discovered icy object lurking beyond Pluto has reignited interest in the distant worlds at the edge of our solar system and the question of what qualifies as a planet.
Named 2026 ED138, the object was detected using the Vera C Rubin Observatory in Chile, but further observations are needed to confirm whether it qualifies as a dwarf planet. The discovery was announced at a scientific meeting in Spokane, Washington.
Researchers estimate that 2026 ED138 is between 600 and 1,500 km wide and orbits the Sun at a distance roughly 46 times that between Earth and the Sun. Pluto, by comparison, orbits at an average distance of about 40 times the Earth-Sun distance.
If confirmed as a dwarf planet, 2026 ED138 would join five objects currently recognised in that category by the International Astronomical Union (IAU): Pluto, Eris, Haumea, Makemake and Ceres. While Pluto, Eris, Haumea and Makemake orbit beyond Neptune, Ceres is located in the asteroid belt between Mars…
In Mohammad Kamil v. State of U.P. and Another, the Allahabad High Court established that earning capacity takes precedence over declared income during spousal support assessments. The bench rejected an appeal from an able-bodied man who cited a lack of permanent employment to evade family payments. This determination ensures that homemakers forced out of marital homes receive financial protection regardless of their spouses' claimed economic difficulties.
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