An 11-year-old is
responsible for naming Pluto.
In
1930, the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) was struggling to come up with a name for a newly-discovered planet. They
considered Minerva, Zeus, Atlas, and Persephone—but it was 11-year-old Venetia Burney Phair who suggested Pluto, inspired by the
God of the underworld. When the idea eventually reached the RAS with the help
of the girl's connected family—her librarian grandfather knew many
astronomers—they loved it and ultimately decided to use the suggestion.
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