Clyde Tombaugh
Clyde William Tombaugh (February 4, 1906 – January 17, 1997) was an American astronomer. He discovered Pluto in 1930.
Clyde William Tombaugh | |
|---|---|
| File:Clyde W. Tombaugh.jpeg Tombaugh at his family's farm with his homemade telescope | |
| Born | February 4, 1906 Streator, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | January 17, 1997 (aged 90) Las Cruces, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Astronomer |
| Known for | Discovery of Pluto |
Biography
Tombaugh was born in a ranch near Streator, Illinois.[1] After his family moved to Burdett, Kansas, Tombaugh planned to attend college. A hailstorm ruined his family's farm crops, so he did not have money to pay for college.[2]
After he discovered Pluto, he went to college at the University of Kansas and graduated with two degrees in astronomy.[2]
Clyde Tombaugh Media
- Lowell astrograph.jpg
Tombaugh created his photographic plates using this 13-inch (330 mm) astrograph
- Pluto in True Color - High-Res.jpg
Pluto in True Color - High-Res
- Lowell blink comparator.jpg
Tombaugh compared his photographic plates using this blink comparator.
References
Sources
- Falk, Dan, "More than a one-hit wonder", Astronomy, February 2006, 40–45.
- David H. Levy Clyde Tombaugh: Discoverer of the Planet Pluto (Tucson, Ariz.: University of Arizona Press, 1991). ISBN 0-8165-1148-9; also Sky Publishing Corporation, March 2006
Other websites
- Many biographical articles on Clyde Tombaugh
- Quote from Tombaugh on UFOs
- UFO activities of Tombaugh
- Academic paper on Tombaugh's UFO activities and near-earth satellite search
- Illinois proposes a Pluto Day and reinstate Pluto as a Planet in honor of C. Tombaugh: Illinois General Assembly, Senate Resolution SR0046 2/26/2009
