Hello, little stargazers🔭! Ready for another fascinating space journey? Today, we’ll traverse the cosmos to uncover how Pluto, the dwarf planet at the fringe of our solar system, got its name. Strap on your imagination helmets, and let’s set off on this interstellar adventure!
Facts that prove How did Pluto get its name
Meet Pluto: The Icy Dwarf Planet ❄️🪐
Pluto, often referred to as the ninth planet, is a tiny icy body located in the distant region of our solar system known as the Kuiper Belt.
While it was classified as the ninth planet from the Sun when discovered in 1930, it was reclassified as a “dwarf planet” by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 2006.
How Was Pluto Discovered? 🔭
Pluto was discovered by Clyde Tombaugh, a young American astronomer, at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona.
This discovery was the culmination of a search started by Percival Lowell, the observatory’s founder, who believed that a mysterious “Planet X” existed beyond Neptune.
The Naming of Pluto: A Young Girl’s Contribution 🧒
The story of how Pluto got its name is just as interesting as the planet itself. It’s a unique tale where an 11-year-old schoolgirl named Venetia Burney played a significant role.
One morning, after learning about the discovery of a new planet, Venetia was eating breakfast with her grandfather, Falconer Madan, a retired librarian from the University of Oxford. She suggested the name “Pluto,” after Pluto, the Roman god of the Underworld, who could make himself invisible – a fitting name for a planet so elusive and far from the Sun.
Madan was so impressed by his granddaughter’s suggestion that he forwarded it to his friend Herbert Hall Turner, an astronomy professor at Oxford, who then proposed it to the Lowell Observatory.
The astronomers at the observatory loved the name, partly because the first two letters, ‘P’ and ‘L,’ also stood for Percival Lowell, who had predicted the existence of Pluto.
Pluto’s Name Goes Global 🌍
On May 1, 1930, the name “Pluto” was officially announced and accepted by astronomers around the world. And the best part?
Little Venetia received a £5 note (quite a hefty sum for a child at that time!) as a token of appreciation from the grateful staff at the Lowell Observatory.
Symbolism Behind the Name: Pluto
Pluto, in Roman mythology, was the god of the underworld, which suits an icy, dark planet at the outskirts of the solar system.
The name also has a strong connection with the planet’s cold and remote characteristics.
Pluto: More than Just a Name
The naming of Pluto didn’t stop at the planet itself! Its largest moon was named Charon, after the mythological ferryman who carried souls across the river Acheron, one of the rivers of the Underworld in Greek mythology.
The two other moons, Nix and Hydra, are also named after mythical characters associated with the Underworld.
Conclusion
So there you have it, future astronauts👩🚀: the exciting story behind how Pluto received its name! This story, bridging space, mythology, and a young girl’s imagination, beautifully illustrates the human spirit of curiosity and exploration.
Keep looking up at the stars✨ and wondering about the vast universe, because who knows? The next big cosmic discovery might have a story just waiting for you to write!
I’m a former teacher (and mother of Two Childs) with a background in child development. Here to help you with play-based learning activities for kids. ( Check my Next startup Cledemy.Com)