
ALT This image shows the orbital pathway of newly discovered dwarf planet candidate 2026 ED138 (ED138), as observed by NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory. This image is a composite of multiple images captured by Rubin between 4 March and 11 July 2026 at intervals indicated by the teal circles. ED138 is visible at the center of each circle. ED138 was found by Rubin Operations team member and in-Kind contributor Matthew Holman (Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian), who contributes to improving Rubin's algorithms that search for distant moving objects in our Solar System. Its distance from the Sun places it beyond the orbit of Pluto, and initial analysis indicates that it may be among the largest and brightest bodies scientists have discovered in this region of the Solar System. Credit: NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory/NOIRLab/SLAC/AURA Image Processing: M. Jurić (UW), D. de Martin & M. Zamani (NSF NOIRLab)

ALT Two panels from a computer simulation of the Moon forming impact, seen from above on a black background with a 50,000 km scale bar in each. Particles are colored by temperature from purple for cooler to bright yellow for hotter. The top panel, labeled Strengthless, shows the glowing proto Earth surrounded by a scattered cloud of debris and a few small clumps. The bottom panel, labeled Strength, shows the glowing proto Earth with much less debris and a single intact, rounded body orbiting off to the upper left.









































