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Clyde Tombaugh Trivia Quiz

Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto in 1930. Even though Pluto was demoted to "dwarf planet" in 2006, it was still an incredible achievement for Clyde Tombaugh. He was born on February 4, 1906 and died on January 17, 1997. He was 90 years old.

A multiple-choice quiz by almach. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
almach

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
255,034

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
254

This quiz has 2 formats: you can play it as a or as shown below.
Scroll down to the bottom for the answer key.

1. When Clyde outgrew his small 2 1/4 inch (lens diameter) telescope, what did he do? Hint

made his own telescope

had his dad buy him a bigger telescope

bought a bigger telescope

got out of the hobby

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2. Clyde Tombaugh originally made sketches of what? Hint

The Moon

Mars and Jupiter

Mars & Saturn

Pluto

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3. What other big interest, besides astronomy, did Clyde Tombaugh have? Hint

steam engines

motor boats

race cars

coin collecting

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4. Where was Clyde Tombaugh born? Hint

Burdett, Kansas

Streator, Illinois

Des Moines, Iowa

Omaha, Nebraska

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5. When Clyde Tombaugh retired in 1973, what did he do? Hint

he was never heard from again

he lectured across the country

he went into business selling his telescopes

he moved to Hawaii

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6. At which observatory did Clyde Tombaugh discover Pluto? Hint

Mt Wilson Observatory

Yerkes Observatory

Mt Palomar Observatory

Lowell Observatory

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7. Besides Pluto, what else did Clyde Tombaugh discover? Hint

a moon of Pluto

a moon of Saturn

a nova in the constellation Corvus

a nova in M31, the spiral galaxy in Andromeda

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8. Did Clyde Tombaugh serve in World War II?

Yes

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9. Did Clyde Tombaugh spend his entire scientific career at one observatory?

Yes

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10. Where did Clyde Tombaugh die? Hint

Flagstaff, Arizona

Las Cruces, New Mexico

Phoenix, Arizona

San Diego, California

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. When Clyde outgrew his small 2 1/4 inch (lens diameter) telescope, what did he do?

Answer: made his own telescope

He eventually built additional telescopes, around thirty. He also ground his own mirrors for the telescopes. Most people today buy the mirrors already done and just build the rest of the scope.

2. Clyde Tombaugh originally made sketches of what?

Answer: Mars and Jupiter

He would send them to Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, to get some advise on his drawings. Lowell Observatory offered him a job to operate a new photographic telescope which he accepted.

3. What other big interest, besides astronomy, did Clyde Tombaugh have?

Answer: steam engines

His father was a engineer on a steam engine rig and Clyde loved the machinery.

4. Where was Clyde Tombaugh born?

Answer: Streator, Illinois

He was born on a ranch on February 4, 1906.

5. When Clyde Tombaugh retired in 1973, what did he do?

Answer: he lectured across the country

Later on in life, for about five years, between 1985 - 1990, he gave lectures across the USA specifically to raise money for his Tombaugh Scholars program at New Mexico State.

6. At which observatory did Clyde Tombaugh discover Pluto?

Answer: Lowell Observatory

Clyde Tombaugh was 24 years old when he photographed the elusive world. He first noticed it on February 18, 1930 on photographic plates. The discovery was announced to the public on March 13, 1930.

7. Besides Pluto, what else did Clyde Tombaugh discover?

Answer: a nova in the constellation Corvus

Besides Pluto and the nova (now called V Corvi), he discovered several comets as well as some star clusters and hundreds of asteroids.

8. Did Clyde Tombaugh serve in World War II?

Answer: Yes

He did navigation teaching during WWII at Northern Arizona University.

9. Did Clyde Tombaugh spend his entire scientific career at one observatory?

Answer: No

Clyde Tombaugh was dismissed from Lowell in 1945 due to financial reasons. He began working at White Sands (New Mexico) Proving Grounds to help the space program in 1946.

10. Where did Clyde Tombaugh die?

Answer: Las Cruces, New Mexico

He died in Las Cruces, New Mexico on January 17, 1997. At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife Patricia and two children. About an ounce of Clyde Tombaugh's ashes are aboard the New Horizons space probe that was launched on January 19, 2006. The spacecraft is scheduled to do a fly by of Pluto in 2015.

Source: Author almach

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Snowman before going online.
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