The smallest planet of our Solar System, Pluto was
named after the Roman god of the dead, also Greek god
of the underworld. Since, little was known about the
planet, which was located farthest from the Sun, the
name suited it well. The astronomers of Lowell
Observatory adopted the name Pluto, based on a
suggestion made by a 11 years old girl Venetia Burney.

It was on the afternoon of the 18th February 1930,
Pluto, was discovered by a young and keen astronomer
Clyde William Tombaugh. Born in 1906, Tombaugh, spent
his time sketching different planets and celestial
objects. He sent some of them to the Lowell
Observatory, who were impressed by the sketches and
was assigned the task of planet hunting. His job was
to examine two photographic plates of the same part of
the sky taken a few nights apart. A record was to be
maintained on any object which had moved during the
interval. Care had to be taken, to ensure that the
objects that had moved, were not known planets. On
February 18, 1930 he picked out a faint moving object
and soon knew that he had found a new planet. The rest
was history.

The forever loyal, brave companion dog of Disney's
Mickey Mouse, made it's debut the same year. It was
named Pluto after the new planet of our solar system.
Pluto spoke only once in The Moose Hunt, 1931 and has
since been a silent but favorite cartoon character of
all times. Viewers of Disney's hour will agree with
me!

On 18th February 2005, Astronomy Clubs all over the
world celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Discovery
of the 9th Planet to hightlight the discovery and the
story behind and encourage the younger generation take
up this branch of science.

So why don't you too???? ;-)

Clear skies

Manoj Pai
Ahmedabad



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