Who Discovered Pluto and When?

Astronomer Clyde Tombaugh made the incredible discovery of Pluto on February 18, 1930, at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. This moment in astronomical history was part of a quest for a predicted celestial body that had been posited decades earlier.

The Naming of Pluto

Before being officially named Pluto, the celestial body was referred to as a mysterious wanderer in the night sky. Its name was suggested by 11-year-old Venetia Burney from Oxford, England, who proposed it to her grandfather. The chosen name Pluto, the Roman god of the underworld, was a fitting nomenclature for a distant and cold object in the solar system.

Note from the Archives: Some science enthusiasts humorously note that it was called “Planet W” at one point, as they were already searching for "Planet X" before the discovery.

The Mythology Behind Pluto

Pluto, or the Roman equivalent of the Greek God Hades, was the Lord of the Underworld. He was a very dark, serious-looking figure associated with rulership over the realm of the dead. This dark and distant character provided an apt symbol for a celestial body that was far removed from the warmth of the Sun.

According to some scientific theories, Pluto may have once been in orbit between Mars and Jupiter, only to blow up, melt, and be flung out into its current distant position. Some researchers suggest that the remnants of this event may have formed the asteroid belt that we observe today.

Pluto's Moons and Classification

Astronomers have now identified Pluto as a dwarf planet, with an astonishing five moons of its own. These moons include:

tCharon, the largest moon, which closely resembles the Earth's Moon in appearance. The similarity between Charon and Luna (our Moon) is intriguing. tKerberos (or Hydra), another small moon named after the three-headed dog in Greek mythology. tNix and Hydra, two smaller moons that were originally discovered during the New Horizons flyby in 2015. tStyx, an even smaller, newly discovered moon.

Both Charon and Luna have their own mesmerizing stories behind their names, but the innovative naming of Pluto's moons reflects the rich cultural and mythological heritage of astronomy. This classification of Pluto as a dwarf planet opens up new possibilities for categorizing other celestial bodies in our solar system.

Pluto and the Dwarf Planet Concept

The reclassification of Pluto highlights the evolving nature of our understanding of the solar system. As our technology advances and our knowledge grows, we continue to reassess how we categorize and understand the vast array of objects that orbit our Sun.

Even our current understanding of the solar system may prove insufficient as we continue to explore the dynamic and complex nature of our local galactic neighborhood. The ongoing adventure of space exploration will undoubtedly lead to new discoveries and reclassifications as we delve deeper into the mysteries of our universe.