Venetia Burney

British schoolteacher, namer of the dwarf planet Pluto

Venetia Burney (1918–2009) is known for suggesting name the Pluto for newly discovered celestial body in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh. At that time, Venetia Burney was an 11 year old schoolgirl living in Oxford, England. [1][2][3]

Venetia Burney
Eleven-year-old Venetia
Born
Venetia Katharine Douglas Burney

(1918-07-11)11 July 1918
Died30 April 2009(2009-04-30) (aged 90)
Known forNaming Pluto
Spouse
Edward Maxwell Phair
(m. 1947⁠–⁠2006)
ChildrenPatrick Phair
Parents
RelativesFalconer Madan, grandfather

References

change
  1. Hazen, Allison (2 June 2015). "Transcript: The Girl Who Named Pluto". NASA. Archived from the original on 24 February 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
  2. "The girl who named a planet". 13 January 2006 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
  3. Grimes, William (10 May 2009). "Venetia Phair Dies at 90; as a Girl, She Named Pluto" – via NYTimes.com.