The Farm Boy Who Discovered Pluto

The Garden Astronomer Podcast

The Farm Boy Who Discovered Pluto

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How did a hardworking Kansas farm boy find his way to Pluto?

In this episode, we dive into the true story of Clyde Tombaugh. After Clyde spent months grinding telescope mirrors in an underground root cellar, a June hailstorm ruined his family’s crops and his hopes for college. Discover how his salvaged farm parts and late-night planetary sketches earned him a one-way train ride to the Lowell Observatory. There, after endless hours and freezing nights, he came eye-to-eye with the planet Pluto.

Written by: Wayne McGraw. Narrated by: Amy McGraw

For more forgotten human stories in astronomy, visit gardenastronomer.com