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Space

How to spot Haumea, one of the solar system's strangest objects

Pluto isn’t the only dwarf planet in our solar system's outer reaches. Now is an ideal time to look for the egg-shaped Haumea, says Abigail Beall

By Abigail Beall

9 April 2025

KHKRFM Haumea and moons, illustration. Haumea is a dwarf planet in the Kuiper Belt. It is noted for its elongated shape, somewhat like a rugby ball. It is orbited by at least two moons and a narrow ring of rocky particles.

An artist’s illustration of Haumea

Science Photo Library/Alamy

I find the outer reaches of our solar system fascinating. It’s a place that we know very little about considering how relatively close it is – even its size is up for debate. It’s littered with icy rocks, most of which are detectable only by huge telescopes. But soon we will have a chance to spot one of these strange worlds.

Pluto is undoubtedly the most famous of all the dwarf planets, because it was once considered part of the main lineup of planets in our solar system. But there are…

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