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Stumble It!The Astronomy Associates of Lawrence will sponsor the 100th anniversary celebration of the birth of astronomy pioneer Clyde Tombaugh on Saturday.
Tombaugh discovered the planet Pluto in 1930. His legacy includes a distinguished career in astronomy. The Clyde Tombaugh Observatory at KU is named in honor of the former KU alumnus.
Dr. Alan Stern will speak on behalf of Tombaugh at the Tombaugh Centennial celebration. Stern worked with New Horizon, the launched exploratory mission sent to Pluto. The event will also include star viewing at the south end of Memorial Stadium at the Campus Observing Station. Barbara Twarog, KU professor of Physics and Astronomy, said that weather will play a key role in Saturday night's outdoor festivities.
"Plans to look at something in the sky are always weather dependent, and as good as anybody is at predicting the weather, its never perfect. It's looking like it will be good enough for people to see the moon, Mars, and Saturn," Twarog said.
The presentation begins on Saturday at 8 p.m. in Alderson Auditorium at the Kansas Union.
