The following pages chronicle the extraordinary journey of Clyde W. Tombaugh, a man whose life mirrored the vastness of the frontiers he explored. From the sun-scorched wheat fields of Kansas to the frozen heart of Pluto, Tombaugh’s story is a quintessential American epic—one defined by a relentless work ethic, a “DIY” spirit, and a lifelong devotion to the stars. This collection of findings explores the various chapters of his life, illustrating how a farm boy with a high school diploma and a homemade telescope redefined our understanding of the solar system.
The Architect of His Own Destiny
Before he was a world-renowned astronomer, Tombaugh was a self-taught engineer. Lacking the funds for a formal education after a devastating hailstorm destroyed his family’s crops, he built his own high-powered telescopes using scavenged car parts and farm machinery. His ability to grind glass to a precision of millionths of an inch in a hand-dug underground pit serves as a testament to the ingenuity and grit that would later lead him to the discovery of a lifetime.
A Career of Service and Discovery
Tombaugh’s contributions extended far beyond the discovery of the “ninth planet” in 1930. Our research delves into his multifaceted career, including:
- The Search for Planet X: His grueling year-long marathon at the Lowell Observatory, where he meticulously compared over two million stars using a Blink Comparator.
- National Defense: His vital service during World War II, teaching navigation to the U.S. Navy, and his post-war work at the White Sands Missile Range, where he pioneered optical tracking systems for high-speed rockets.
- Academic Leadership: His long tenure at New Mexico State University, where he founded a world-class astronomy department and dedicated his later years to raising funds for future generations of scholars.
Ad Astra per Aspera
The phrase Ad Astra per Aspera, to the stars through difficulties, was not just a motto for Tombaugh; it was his life’s path.
Clyde Tombaugh 