# The Fascinating Story Behind Pluto's Naming by an 11-Year-Old Girl
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Chapter 1: The Discovery of Pluto
Pluto, once celebrated as the ninth planet, was discovered in 1930 but later reclassified as a “dwarf planet” in 2006. Its brief tenure as a planet was overshadowed by the life of Venetia Phair (née Burney), the young girl who proposed its name.
Venetia's Inspiration
At the tender age of 11, Venetia lived with her mother and brother at her grandparents' home in Oxford after losing her father early in life. On March 14, 1930, during breakfast, her grandfather came across an article in The Times announcing Clyde Tombaugh's discovery of a ninth planet beyond Neptune, noting that a name had yet to be determined.
She excitedly suggested, “Why not call it Pluto?” Believing that the Roman god of the underworld was an apt choice for such a distant and shadowy planet, Venetia drew upon her knowledge of mythology and her fascination with astronomy.
The Journey of Her Suggestion
Venetia's grandfather, Falconer Madan, was a respected former chief librarian at the Bodleian Library. He took her suggestion seriously and contacted a prominent astronomer, Herbert Hall Turner. On the day Turner received the letter, he happened to be traveling to a meeting of the Royal Astronomical Society in London. He promptly sent a telegram to the Lowell Observatory, stating: “Naming new planet, please consider Pluto, suggested by small girl Venetia Burney for dark and gloomy planet.”
Acceptance of the Name
Pluto was one of several names considered (including Cronus and Minerva), but its selection was influenced by an interesting coincidence: the initials “PL” matched those of Percival Lowell, the observatory's founder, which made the name even more appealing. Venetia was honored with a congratulatory postcard from the Royal Astronomical Society and received five pounds from her grandfather, a generous sum at the time.
Venetia's Life After Pluto
Eventually, Venetia pursued a career as a chartered accountant and educator while maintaining her interest in astronomy. In 2006, an asteroid was named after her, and she was also recognized on a probe that reached Pluto in 2015. Sadly, she often faced skepticism regarding her ability to name a planet, with some attributing her suggestion to a mere fondness for Disney’s dog named Pluto. However, history clearly shows that the planet’s name was established long before the cartoon character.
Venetia Phair passed away on April 30, 2009, at the age of 90. Remarkably, on her 89th birthday, she was able to observe Pluto through a telescope for the first time, 77 years after she had given it its name.
Chapter 2: Pluto's Legacy
The first video titled "The reason why Pluto is no longer a planet" explains the reasons behind Pluto's reclassification and its impact on astronomy.
The second video, "Pluto, The Bizarre History of This Dwarf Planet!" delves into the unique journey of Pluto from its discovery to its current status.
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