plutoid

A plutoid is a celestial body that orbits the Sun beyond Neptune and is massive enough for its own gravity to pull it into a roughly spherical shape. This definition was established by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 2008. Plutoids are considered a subset of dwarf planets. The primary characteristic differentiating a plutoid from other dwarf planets is its orbital distance from the Sun. They reside in the Kuiper Belt or scattered disc, regions of icy bodies located beyond Neptune's orbit.

The first object to be recognized as a plutoid was Pluto itself, which was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006 and subsequently fit the plutoid definition. Other examples of plutoids include Eris, Makemake, and Haumea, all of which are also classified as dwarf planets. The naming convention for plutoids follows that of dwarf planets, typically receiving names from mythology. The IAU's definition aims to categorize these distant, massive icy bodies based on their physical characteristics and orbital location.