Accessibility links
Planet-Like Ball Spied Beyond Pluto Astronomers have discovered a giant ball of ice and dust in orbit around the sun, far beyond Pluto. Scientists say it's the most distant object in our solar system, 8 billion miles away. Dubbed Sedna, the object is about the same size as Pluto -- and some wonder whether it should be called a planet, too. NPR's Richard Harris reports.

Science

Planet-Like Ball Spied Beyond Pluto

Heard on Morning Edition

Richard Harris

Planet-Like Ball Spied Beyond Pluto

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1769629/1769630" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Astronomers have discovered a giant ball of ice and dust in orbit around the sun, far beyond Pluto. Scientists say it's the most distant object in our solar system, 8 billion miles away. Dubbed Sedna, the object is about the same size as Pluto — and some wonder whether it should be called a planet, too. NPR's Richard Harris reports.