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Sunday, November 8, 2026 · UTC
The Sky & Telescopes

Vera Rubin detects new dwarf planet candidate, fast deflection model released

Two planetary astronomy results were confirmed and published in early November 2026.

Arjun Nair
Astronomy Editor
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Stands on 4 placed sources from 3 publishers.
MENLO PARK, United States, Nov. 5, 2026 - The Vera Rubin Observatory has detected candidate dwarf planet 2026 ED138. The International Astronomical Union Minor Planet Center formally announced the discovery on 27 October 2026[1]. Independent detection by two separate radio telescopes has ruled out radio interference or false positive signals for the object[2]. Sandia National Laboratories physicist Nathan Moore led research published this week introducing an asteroid deflection simulation algorithm 1600 times faster than prior models[3]. Simulations run on three known asteroids found required deflection velocity can vary by up to five times depending on the asteroid's orientation at interception[4]. Space Nugget. A dwarf planet candidate is a sun-orbiting body massive enough to have formed a roughly spherical shape, but which has not cleared other material from its orbital path. Formal classification requires full review by the International Astronomical Union.
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What this stands on
  1. On 27 October 2026, the International Astronomical Union Minor Planet Center announced the discovery of dwarf planet candidate 2026 ED138 by the Vera C. Rubin Observatory. · SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory ·
  2. Independent detection by two separate radio telescopes ruled out radio interference or false positive signals for this object. · San Juan Daily Star
  3. Sandia National Laboratories physicist Nathan Moore led research published in Icarus introducing an asteroid deflection simulation algorithm 1600 times faster than prior models. · Universe Today
  4. Simulations on asteroids Bennu, Itokawa, and Golevka found deflection velocity can vary by up to 2x, 4x, and 5x respectively based on asteroid orientation at interception. · Universe Today
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