From Naming Pluto to Meeting Him

Ex-planet has ex-namer

(Props to Kirsti)

Back before anyone could send $20 to get a star named after you, naming a planet was a big deal, so we recognize Venetia Phair, who suggested to her grandfather, retired librarian of the Bodleian Library at Oxford University Falconer Madan, that the newly discovered 9th planet be christened Pluto when it was first photographed in 1930. For her efforts, she got 5 pounds, and of course, her own GHI obituary. She is also indirectly the namer of Mickey Mouse’s dog, as Walt celebrated the discovery by using the name Pluto for the pup, also introduced to the public in 1930.