Ever since the discovery of the eighth planet, Neptune, astronomers speculated about a possible ninth planet. Some, like American Percival Lowell, used mathematical analysis of the orbit of Uranus to trace the undetected planet’s gravitational effects.
In 1930, astronomer Clyde Tombaugh, building on Lowell’s work, discovered the ninth planet. Or did he? (This is a special Christmas episode of the podcast.)
(Correction: Clyde Tombaugh received his degrees in astronomy from the University of Kansas. In an earlier version of this episode, I mistakenly said they were from Kansas State University. I apologize for the error, and the podcast and transcript have been corrected.)
- Listen now:
Playlist:
Fanfare
Opening Theme
eDream
Closing Theme
Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.
Thank you for another great episode! As much as I enjoy the regular flow of the show, it was really interesting to explore a topic from beginning to end – or at least as far as we know today.
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas with those around you Mark, and I’m looking forward to explore the century further in the coming year.
I too love how the bonus episodes differ from the regular flow. Especially since they’re focussed on ‘space stuff”. Great episode!
What a great episode!
Talk of Planet X triggered a childhood memory. In early elementary school, a book my mother read to me was The Search for Planet X, about the hunt for Pluto. I was so enthralled with the story. Some time later, I recall my mother reading an interview with Mr. Tombaugh the L.A. Times.
About 15 years ago, I visited the Lowell Planetarium in Flagstaff, AZ. My son and I took two tours and spent time in the museum. On one tour, we saw the telescope used by Tombaugh (and I think the images, too). A wonderful experience that I recommend highly. Frankly, Flagstaff is a great place to visit. It is a stone’s throw from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and Meteorite Crater.
With regard to the “demotion” of Pluto to the status of Dwarf Planet, Neil deGrasse Tyson (I love that guy!) served as a public explainer of why Pluto should no longer be considered a planet. For his efforts, he has reported that he received “hate mail from ten-year-olds” who objected to his denigrating of Pluto. He said that with a twinkle in his eye.