Clyde Tombaugh

Clyde Tombaugh
Clyde Tombaugh
	Tombaugh at his family's farm with his homemade telescope (1928)
Born	Clyde William Tombaugh; February 4, 1906; Streator, Illinois, U.S.
Died	January 17, 1997 (aged 90); Las Cruces, New Mexico, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Kansas
Occupation	Astronomer
Known for	Discovery of Pluto
Spouse	Patricia
Children	Annette and Alden
Relatives	Clayton Kershaw (great-nephew); Matthew Tombaugh; Richard Tombaugh; 5 siblings;
Awards	Jackson-Gwilt Medal (1931); New Mexico State University Board of Regents Medal (1980); Rittenhouse Medal (1990);

Clyde William Tombaugh /ˈtɒmbaʊ/ (February 4, 1906 – January 17, 1997) was an American astronomer. He discovered Pluto in 1930, the first object to be discovered in what would later be identified as the Kuiper belt. At the time of discovery, Pluto was considered a planet, but was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006. Tombaugh also discovered many asteroids, and called for the serious scientific research of unidentified flying objects.

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