Astronomers have identified a world beyond Pluto that could become the solar system's next dwarf planet, USA Today reports. The object was found in the distant region past Neptune, and its size has drawn attention, with CNN quoting researchers describing it as "big."
The detection came through software built by a researcher, according to The Register, which reports that the result was so unusual the scientist initially suspected a coding error rather than a real object. Coverage of the discovery also notes the wider population of bodies beyond Neptune, with The Brighter Side of News citing 8,291 objects catalogued in that zone.
The finding has renewed discussion of Pluto's demotion, NDTV reports, as a new candidate reopens questions about how the solar system's smallest class of planets is defined. Whether the object meets the criteria for dwarf planet status has not been settled in the reporting.
What to watch next: follow-up observations and formal review of the object's size and orbit, which will determine whether it is officially classified as a dwarf planet.
