Clyde Tombaugh
The Astronomer Who Discovered Pluto
Clyde Tombaugh found Pluto by comparing photographic plates one pair at a time, searching for a tiny point that moved against the stars.
Lived
1906–1997
Known for
Discovery of Pluto
Field
Astronomy
TransitSatellite connection
Pluto and New Horizons
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Biographical details
- Born
- 1906-02-04 - Streator, Illinois, United States
- Died
- 1997-01-17 - Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States
- Education
- University of Kansas (degrees earned after the discovery of Pluto)
Chapter 1
Early Life
Tombaugh grew up on farms in Illinois and Kansas and built his own telescopes after his family could not afford expensive equipment.
Chapter 2
A Big Question
Find the predicted “Planet X” in a sky crowded with millions of stars and photographic defects.
Chapter 3
What Happened
In 1930 Tombaugh identified Pluto on plates taken at Lowell Observatory.
Chapter 4
Why It Matters
His discovery added a new world to the known Solar System and later became part of the story of the Kuiper Belt.
Chapter 5
Explore the Connection
New Horizons carried a small portion of Tombaugh’s ashes past Pluto in 2015, linking his discovery directly to modern spacecraft exploration.
Key facts
- Born on 1906-02-04 in Streator, Illinois, United States.
- Known for: Discovery of Pluto
- Primary field: Astronomy
- His discovery added a new world to the known Solar System and later became part of the story of the Kuiper Belt.
- New Horizons carried a small portion of Tombaugh’s ashes past Pluto in 2015, linking his discovery directly to modern spacecraft exploration.
Vocabulary
Discussion questions
- What problem did Clyde Tombaugh help solve?
- How does Clyde Tombaugh's work connect to something people can explore in TransitSatellite?
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