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| Latest photos of Pluto's puzzling spots. Source: John Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory |
..."and Pluto," the end of the memorized verse we recited to my teacher Mrs. Flynt showing our mastery of the [then] nine planets for a good grade. Pluto - apart from my elementary school science classes - has entered our imaginations again. By the time this auto posts, several images will have been broadcast around the globe. An ounce of the ashes of astronomer Clyde Tombaugh - the discoverer of Pluto - is on board poetically for this journey. I'll likely update this post with some video embed when available.
When New Horizons rocketed away from Cape Canaveral on Jan. 19, 2006, Pluto was the ninth planet in our solar system. It was demoted to dwarf planet a scant seven months later.
Tombaugh's widow and two children offered up an ounce of his ashes for the journey to Pluto. The ashes of the farm boy-turned-astronomer are in a 2-inch aluminum capsule inscribed with these words:
"Interned herein are remains of American Clyde W. Tombaugh, discoverer of Pluto and the solar system's 'third zone.' Adelle and Muron's boy, Patricia's husband, Annette and Alden's father, astronomer, teacher, punster, and friend: Clyde Tombaugh (1906-1997)" *
A truth from fiction, Clyde Tombaugh has gone "where no one has gone before." \\//_
The promised embed:
NASA: Pluto and Charon: New Horizons' Dynamic Duo
New Horizons: NASA's Mission to Pluto
* USA Today:
Astronomer's ashes nearing icy world he discovered: Pluto, Marcia Dunn, Associated Press
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