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Dear Friend ,
In July 2015, NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft flew past Pluto after a 9 1/2-year-flight. But this historic encounter has really been 85 years in the making, since 24-year-old Clyde Tombaugh discovered this enigmatic body at the edge of our planetary system. Today we realize that Pluto is just one of thousands of objects in the Kuiper Belt that lies beyond Neptune, even though initially it was believed to be a solitary body perhaps as massive as Earth.
Join veteran space-science reporter Kelly Beatty as he traces the history of Pluto from predictions of its existence to the discovery of its moons to its “demotion” to dwarf-planet status. Then take a tour of what New Horizons has revealed about Pluto and its moon Charon—truly the “odd couple” of our solar system.
Beatty specializes in planetary science and space exploration as senior editor for Sky & Telescope magazine, and has been heard in interviews and guest commentaries on NPR and The Weather Channel. He also serves on the board of directors of the International Dark-Sky Association.
Pluto’s Amazing Story
Evening Program
Thurs., Jan. 28 at 6:45 PM
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