Possible dwarf planet beyond Pluto & Sun’s magnetic field mapped - Space News (Oct 29, 2026)

Support The Automated Daily directly: 15 free episodes a day, 5 editions, 3 languages, about $4 a day to produce. A coffee keeps it going: theautomateddaily.com/support Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: - Consensus: AI for Research. Get a free month - https://get.consensus.app/automated_daily - Lindy is your ultimate AI assistant that proactively manages your inbox - https://try.lindy.ai/tad - Prezi: Create AI presentations fast - https://try.prezi.com/automated_daily Today's topics: Possible dwarf planet beyond Pluto - The Vera C. Rubin Observatory has detected 2026 ED138, a large icy object beyond Pluto that may qualify as a dwarf planet. Its discovery highlights Rubin’s ability to uncover previously hidden members of the outer solar system. [259] Sun’s magnetic field mapped - Researchers produced the first global three-dimensional estimates of the Sun’s outer magnetic field. The new view of the solar corona could improve models of eruptions and forecasts of disruptive space weather. [286] Artemis measures lunar radiation - Detectors carried around the Moon by Artemis I found higher radiation than in low Earth orbit, but the difference was smaller than researchers might intuitively expect. The measurements will help assess astronaut radiation risks on future lunar missions. [211] Lucy reaches Jupiter’s Trojans - NASA’s Lucy spacecraft has entered the region occupied by Jupiter’s leading Trojan asteroids, becoming the first mission to reach this distant population. Its first close Trojan encounter is planned for 2027. [106] ISS power upgrade spacewalk - Astronauts Anil Menon and Joshua Kutryk prepared to install the seventh roll-out solar array on the International Space Station. The spacewalk continues a multiyear power upgrade intended to support the station through retirement. [124][126] Vulcan sets return flight - United Launch Alliance scheduled Vulcan’s return to flight for November 13 after a nine-month grounding linked to a solid-booster problem. The mission is due to carry 40 Amazon Leo satellites, pending range approval. [199] Vietnam joins Artemis Accords - Vietnam became the 78th country to sign the Artemis Accords, the non-binding principles for peaceful and transparent civil space exploration. The move expands international cooperation surrounding future missions to the Moon and beyond. [181][186] Episode Transcript Possible dwarf planet beyond Pluto We begin beyond Neptune, where astronomers have identified a possible new dwarf planet. The object is provisionally called 2026 ED138, and it was found in data from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile. Early estimates suggest it could be between roughly six hundred and fifteen hundred kilometers wide. That range is broad, but the upper end would make this a substantial member of the outer solar system. It is currently about forty-six times farther from the Sun than Earth is. Astronomers still need a reliable measurement of its size before deciding whether gravity has shaped it into the rounded form required for dwarf-planet status. If confirmed, it would join the five dwarf planets currently recognized by the Internati