Tombaugh

[ tom-baw ]

noun

1. Clyde William, 1906–97, U.S. astronomer: discovered Pluto 1930.

Tombaugh

/ ˈtɒmbəʊ /

noun

1. TombaughClyde William19061997MUSSCIENCE: astronomer Clyde William. 1906–97, US astronomer, who discovered (1930) the dwarf planet Pluto

Tombaugh

/ tŏm′bô′ /

1. American astronomer who discovered Pluto in 1930. Beyond the orbit of Neptune, the existence of a planet known as Planet X, had been predicted some years earlier by the American astronomer Percival Lowell based on apparent perturbations in the orbits of Neptune and Uranus. Tombaugh's careful analysis of celestial photographs did reveal a new celestial body, although it was too small to have caused the perturbations. Planet X itself was never found.

Example Sentences

Tombaugh was referring to a ninth planet that had been predicted to orbit the sun beyond Neptune.

From Science News For Students