Science & Health · Space · 8 outlets (L 0 · C 4 · R 2 · 2 not rated)
Astronomers find possible new dwarf planet beyond Pluto
Astronomers have identified 2026 ED138, a possible new dwarf planet orbiting the Sun beyond Pluto, discovered by the Vera C. Rubin Observatory.[1, 2, 8] The object lies in the Kuiper Belt, a distant region of icy and rocky bodies past Neptune.[5] The Washington Times said it would be the sixth dwarf planet confirmed in the solar system if confirmed.[6]
Astronomers are still working to confirm whether it meets the criteria for a dwarf planet.[8] The Register reported that the scientist whose software found the object thought the result must be a bug because it was so rare.[7]
Covered by Newsweek, New York Post, The Register and 5 more
Read first Say Hello To ED138, A Massive New World Beyond Pluto
How balanced is this coverage?
Of the 6 rated outlets that covered it, 0 are left of center, 4 are center and 2 are right of center (1 of them in the Right group). 2 more are not rated.
- Left: none.
- Leans left: none.
- Center: Mashable (−0.45), Newsweek (−0.30), Yahoo News (+0.07), Forbes (+0.19).
- Leans right: New York Post (+0.64).
- Right: The Washington Times (+1.27).
Not rated The Register, Wired. Not placed: they have no lean score.
Each dot is an outlet that covered it, placed by its audience-lean score (Eady et al. 2025), which measures who shares its links, not how accurate it is. The ticks under the line are all 113 rated outlets Tare reads.
Read across the spectrum
- Left-leaning No left-leaning outlet in Tare's list covered it.
- Center Say Hello To ED138, A Massive New World Beyond Pluto
- Right-leaning Giant new dwarf planet discovered in our own solar system — hiding in plain sight