1906 – 1997

Clyde Tombaugh

American astronomer (1906–1997)

university teacherastronomer

Born

1906-02-04, Streator

Died

1997-01-17

Birthplace state

Illinois

Biography

Clyde William Tombaugh was an American astronomer and telescope maker, best known for discovering Pluto in 1930, marking the first detection of what would eventually be recognized as the Kuiper belt. At the time, Pluto was referred to as the ninth planet in the Solar System, a classification that stood for over seven decades.

Occupation

Clyde Tombaugh is recorded as a university teacher and a astronomer, born in Illinois (1906–1997).

Connections to Illinois

Clyde Tombaugh was born in Streator, Illinois in 1906. Explore other notable figures from Illinois, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Illinois›Illinoishistory ›Historic sites in Illinois›

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Geology

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LiDAR Terrain

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Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

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Historical Maps

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Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

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Spotlight

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Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

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More notable figures from Illinois

Other historical figures born in Illinois, ranked by historical prominence.

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Ernest Hemingway

American author and journalist (1899–1961)

Robin Williams

American actor and comedian (1951–2014)

Ray Bradbury

American author and screenwriter (1920–2012)

Bobby Fischer

American chess player (1943–2008)

James Watson

American molecular biologist, geneticist, zoologist and Nobel Laureate (1928–2025)

Frequently asked about Clyde Tombaugh

Who was Clyde Tombaugh?

Clyde Tombaugh was American astronomer (1906–1997), born in Illinois (1906 – 1997).

When and where was Clyde Tombaugh born?

Clyde Tombaugh was born on 1906-02-04 in Streator.

When did Clyde Tombaugh die?

Clyde died on 1997-01-17.

What was Clyde Tombaugh known for?

Clyde Tombaugh is recorded as a university teacher and a astronomer.

Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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