July is the Month of Pluto in Streator, IL. Nasa's New Horizons Spacecraft is expected to pass Pluto at its
closest point next week. The spacecraft contains the ashes of Streator native, Clyde Tombaugh. He discovered Pluto in 1930. Ed Brozak is with the Streator tourism board. He spoke with WNIJ's Jenna Dooley about events this weekend to coincide with the flyby.
Streator Connection (information from Streator Tourism)
Clyde William Tombaugh was born in Streator, Ill., on Feb. 4, 1906. Tombaugh constructed his first telescope at the age of 20. In 1928, he put together a 23-centimeter reflector out of the crankshaft of a 1910 Buick and parts from a cream separator. Using this telescope, young Clyde made detailed observations of Jupiter and Mars, which he sent to Lowell Observatory in hopes of garnering feedback from professional astronomers. Instead of receiving constructive criticism, Tombaugh was instead offered a position at the observatory.
The staff had been searching for an amateur astronomer to operate their new photographic telescope in search of, among other things, the mysterious Planet X. When Tombaugh was hired in 1929, he joined the search for the missing planet. On Feb. 18, 1930, Tombaugh noticed movement across the field of a pair of images taken a month beforehand. After studying the object to confirm it, the staff of Lowell Observatory officially announced the discovery of a ninth planet on March 13.
In 2006, almost a decade after Tombaugh's death, the International Astronomical Union reclassified Pluto as a dwarf planet. The New Horizons mission carries some of Tombaugh's ashes on board as it travels to Pluto and beyond.
Schedule of Events:
Friday, July 10
Twin City Amateur Astronomers Video presentation
“Interview with Clyde Tombaugh,” 8:00 p.m.
Observation Night, 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 11
Pluto Polka Party
Children’s Space Time Activities, Streator City Park, Plumb Pavilion 11a.m. – 4 p.m.
