77 years since Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto

[Gargoyle_Steve]

On February 18th 1930 Clyde discovered Pluto ..... much has happened in that time, but Clyde will be remembered for his discovery.

http://www.discoveryofpluto.com/index.html

[Dennis]

Thanks for the link Steve.:thumbsup:

How amateur astronomy has changed since then! With modern GoTo telescopes, we can locate Pluto in a matter of a few seconds, compared to the 10/11 months (April 1929 to February 1930) it took the 22 year old Clyde Tombaugh.

Cheers

Dennis

[Ric]

Thank for the link Steve, a great read.
I think that Clyde will be remembered and the Pluto debate will probably ensure that as well.

Cheers

[ving]

waaaahh! pluto!! we miss yuor planetary status!1 :(

thanks for the link, i'll go read it now :)

[PeteMo]

It's wierd about Pluto no longer having planetary status.

I'm still puzzled by the new definition of a planet about 'clearing everything else from its orbit' that was applied to Pluto, yet overlooked regarding Jupiter. Since Jupiter has not cleared the Trojan Asteroids from its orbital path, the new definition can be interpreted that Jupiter is not a planet either.

To call them lesser planets or dwarf planets seems to smack of Politically Correct labeling.

[Chrissyo]

When it comes to the new definition, I think the way to look at that section isn't 'clearing everything else from its orbit' more so than 'the object should be the dominant force in the orbit'. Pluto doesn't fit because its got Charon right there with it playing the mutual gravity game. However in the case of the Trojan Asteroids, they are only there because Jupiter is. They make use of its Lagrangian points.

I believe there are many different types of small asteroid/meteroid systems that exisit in our solar system that make use of other planets gravitational influence to exist in their orbits. Thats the point of the 'dominant body' idea for planetary status I guess.

[mickoking]

Well I still consider Pluto a planet even if a bunch of boffins at a meeting don't :P

Viva Pluto :thumbsup:

[PeteMo]

Hi Chrissyo
Thanks for the explanation of the definition, it is certainly more understandable than the almost legalese 'official' version. Would it be best to think of Pluto/Charon as a double planet system instead, a bit like we have double stars? Just a thought.