Discovering Pluto at Lowell Observatory
Arizona State Library, Archives & Records COVID-19 Response – Temporarily suspending all in-person services, while maintaining our statutory responsibilities
- Our number one goal is to keep the public and our employees safe
- The situation related to COVID-19 is rapidly developing, as is the response from this office and the state. Please check back regularly for updates
- We are committed to providing continuity of services while reducing exposure risks
- In-person trainings for ALL divisions are on hold until further notice. Divisions will hold trainings by webinar as needed.
- Department staff will attend community meetings virtually or by phone, when available.
- Services impacted:
- In-person Patent and Trademark Resource Center consultations
- In-person retrieval and immediate checkout of materials to patrons of Arizona Talking Book Library
- Walk-in reference service for Archives & the Research Library
- Ask a Question - online reference service
- Digital Arizona Library, including statewide electronic resources
- Records retention schedules assistance
- Arizona Talking Book Library requests and link to downloads
- Tools and resources for library staff
- Online continuing education for library staff
- Consulting for library staff on grants, electronic resources, digital inclusion efforts, Public Library Survey and all library services
- Communications channel for County Librarians
- E-rate Services offered online and by phone
- Arizona Capitol Museum Giftshop orders can still be placed online
- Arizona Capitol Museum collections can be viewed online through the Arizona Memory Project and Google Cultural Institute
- Arizona Capitol Museum staff can respond to email and phone call inquiries.
______________
______________
______________
______________
______________
______________
______________
______________
The Lowell Observatory was founded in Flagstaff in 1894 by astronomer Percival Lowell, known for his research on Mars. In 1930 amateur astronomer Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto using the observatory's astronomical camera at. Pluto is named for the Roman god of the underworld, and in Roman mythology Pluto’s brothers are Jupiter and Neptune. In 2006 the International Astronomical Union voted to remove Pluto's status as a planet after further research showed its composition and orbit are too different from the other planets.
Read About It
Use the document analysis sheet and the photograph analysis sheet to uncover clues about the people that created the documents.
- "The Lowell Observatory," Arizona Weekly Citizen, July 7, 1894 (p. 2, column 8)
- "Lowell's Observatory World Famous," The Coconino Sun, Jan. 6, 1911 (p. 1, column 5)
- "Dr. Lowell Passes Away," The Holbrook News, Nov. 17, 1916 (p. 1, column 3)
- Year of Pluto collection
- Letter suggesting the name Pluto (1930)
- Explanation for the name Pluto (1930)
- Pluto announcement from Harvard College Observatory (1930)
- "The Founding of Lowell Observatory"
- "Clyde Tombaugh and Planet X," Arizona Highways, May 1994 (p. 51)
- Easy Field Guide to the Arizona Night Sky
Resources
Find a document in the Arizona State Library catalog that would be a good addition to this topic? Have a suggestion for another Arizona Research Topic? Contact us.
