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Pluto

Once thought to be the ninth planet in the solar system, Pluto was not discovered until 1930 by 23-year-old Clyde Tombaugh. The planet was named by an 11-year old schoolgirl, Venetia Burney.

Tombaugh went on to earn degrees in astronomy from the University of Kansas and Northern Arizona University. He was on the faculy of New Mexico State University until his retirement in 1973. He died in 1997, and a portion of his ashes are aboard the New Horizons spaceecraft now traveling to Pluto.

Burney grew up, married Edward Phair and became a teacher. She is still alive today. Asteroid 6235 is named after her.

The planet has not fared as well. In 2006, the International Astronomical Union created a definition of the term planet that did not include Pluto. Instead, the IAU classified Pluto as a dwarf planet, and gave it a number, 134340.

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