May

22

Sorry, Mr. Tombaugh (again).

Posted by Christopher Waldrop

May 22, 2007 |

As usual I’m a day late and a dollar short, but, as the Chicago Tribune reported, the town of Streator, Illinois, held their first ever Pluto Expo on May 18th and 19th to celebrate hometown hero Clyde Tombaugh (born February 4, 1904, died January 17, 1997) and his 1930 discovery of what was, until 2006, the ninth planet of our Solar System. Hopefully it will become an annual event.

The only planet (if you still believe it’s a planet) to be discovered in the 20th Century, as well as the only one to be discovered by an American astronomer, there is something special about Pluto. If it’s not the last planet then it’s the first marker of that strange expanse known as the Kuiper Belt, birthplace of comets.

Even if you don’t think Pluto is a planet, you have to respect the diligence and sharp eyes of astronomer Clyde Tombaugh. And keep looking up.


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1 Comment so far

  1. The Art Of Space. :: Just Write on April 24, 2008 12:31 am

    [...] provide a spectacular view of one of the most amazing planets in the solar system. And, with the demotion of Pluto, Neptune is officially the farthest planet in the solar system. I know it’s not realistic; for [...]

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