beamjockey ([info]beamjockey) wrote,
@ 2006-02-03 15:34:00
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Entry tags:astronomy, clyde, illinois, pluto, science, streator, tombaugh

Only 0.40235 Plutonian Years
Clyde Tombaugh, formerly of Streator, Illinois (Jerry Corrigan's home town), would turn 100 tomorrow. As it was, he almost made it to age 91.

I never met him, but those who did always speak highly of him.


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[info]shsilver
2006-02-03 10:17 pm UTC (link)
I've met him, exchanged numerous letters with him, and am very willing to speak highly of him.

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[info]wcg
2006-02-03 11:12 pm UTC (link)
I never had the privilege of meeting Clyde in person, but I've spoken with him on the phone a few times and found him the most affable of gentlemen. I'll never forget him telling me about looking at Saturn through his backyard telescope and falling asleep. If his wife hadn't come out to bring him a cup of coffee, he might have frozen to death.

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[info]peteralway
2006-03-30 01:05 am UTC (link)
I saw him give a talk when he was close to 90, and while I didn't meet or chat, I did ask a question in the Q&A period about what else he might have found looking for Pluto--and it was an impressive list.

He was responsible for White Sands missile range changing their standard missile colors from yellow and black to black and white. By extension, that means he can be credited for the Saturn V being white with black roll patterns instead of yellow with black roll patterns.

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