Today I saw Clyde Tombaugh's homemade telescopes

[Gloria]

Family loaned them for a small but fascinating exhibit here in his "hometown."

He was very poor, ground his own lenses as a teenager...his rudimentary equipment was all there.
Also, copies of the notes he would send to the Lowell Obsevatory on his observations...these led to his being hired. He had no formal training. Also, copies of the plates showing the first observation of Pluto. Only after the discovery was he given a scholarship to actually study formally..

Tomorrow night (Sat. 7/25) I'm going to the Plutopalooza wind-up event...they will
be showing big screen pictures from Pluto and NMSU (where Tombaugh taught) will have telescopes out....can't wait to meet other Pluto fans!

[calimary]

1. VERY Cool!!!

[KT2000]

2. That's great

enjoy! Love his story.

[Princess Turandot]

3. Excellent!

It was great that NASA included Tombaugh's son and daughter in last week's New Horizon events. The scientists gave their father and them shout-outs during every press conference. They looked so proud when it was announced that the NH project people had unofficially named the now famous 'heart' region of Pluto after him.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. !!

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[Hissyspit]

5. I read a Scholastic book about him when I was about 8.

So I already knew his about him.