The dwarf planet Pluto had a “birthday” this month. Pluto was discovered on February 18, 1930. That was 95 years ago. An American astronomer first spotted the dwarf planet. His name was Clyde Tombaugh. He found Pluto with a telescope.
At that time, Pluto was classified as a planet. But in 2006, astronomers reclassified it. Now Pluto is considered a dwarf planet. That’s because of its small size and limited orbit.
Scientists are still learning about Pluto. The little world got its first visit from Earth in 2015. That’s when the New Horizons spacecraft flew nearby. It took photos. At the time, mission operations manager Alice Bowman released a statement. She called the photos a “pot of gold.” They have been important for planetary research.
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