2009 is the International Year of Astronomy and the Lowell Observatory is having a celebration of Pluto's 1930 discovery.
In honor of Pluto, dwarf planet of the Kuiper Belt, the Lowell Observatory's blog feed has been added in SO'W's sidebar - have a click and check out the astronomical goings-on.
As you know, one of Astrology's glyphs for Pluto is a capital P and an L melded together which stands for 'Percival Lowell'.
Yet it's astronomer Clyde Tombaugh who gets the credit for Pluto's discovery at the Lowell Observatory on Feb 18, 1930, with Pluto 17Can46 Rx.
On the evening of 2.18.30, the Sun was in AQ, Moon in mid-Scorpio, giving these Images for Integration:
Sun AQ-Moon Sco: 'A scientist dissects a scorpion with great tenderness and absolute precision...A researcher presents his findings to colleagues at a Science for Humanity conference...Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.' (Chas & Suzi Harvey.)
And so, precisely 79 years later, the celebration is set for February 18, 2009, when a Pluto Night program will be presented at the Observatory.
Perhaps you remember the New Horizons spacecraft which was launched toward the dwarf planet in Jan 2006 and could reach Pluto in 2015, if all goes well.
For Pluto Night, planetary scientist Will Grundy, a member of the New Horizons team, will speak on recent discoveries about Pluto and its neighbors, which should make for fascinating listening.
And Kevin Schindler will give a presentation on his research into Pluto's discovery which was "the dramatic culmination of a dedicated search program from this Observatory" - the Lowell Observatory of Arizona.
If you're in the area on Feb 18, I hope you can drop in for Pluto Night and let me know if you do!
~:~
image: Moss Cave Observatory, drawing by jude cowell 2009; from my Secret Moon Art collection.
