Venetia Burney
Educator who named the planet Pluto
Born
July 11th, 1918
106 years ago
Died
2009
16 years ago — 91 years old
Category
Thinkers & Philosophers
Country
United Kingdom
Links & References
An English educator, contributed to astronomy by naming the planet Pluto at the age of 11. The name was suggested during a conversation with her grandfather, who was an avid astronomer. This proposal gained traction and was ultimately adopted by the astronomical community. Burney's suggestion reflected the mythological theme of naming planets after Roman gods. She pursued a career in education, teaching for several decades, and remained involved in discussions about astronomy and science education throughout her life.
Named the planet Pluto in 1930
Had a long career in education
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