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How do astronomers find dwarf planets like Pluto if they are so faint?
Solar SystemDwarf Planets
Quick Answer
They search for slow-moving points of light across multiple telescope images. Pluto was discovered in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh using this method.
The Full Story
Distant objects like Pluto move much more slowly against the background stars than nearby stars do. Astronomers compare photographs or digital images taken on different nights and look for objects that shift position. Clyde Tombaugh used this technique at Lowell Observatory to discover Pluto in 1930. Modern surveys use automated software, but the basic idea is the same: find a faint object that moves where it should not if it were a star.
Key Facts
1.Pluto was discovered in 1930
2.Its discoverer was Clyde Tombaugh
3.Astronomers look for slow movement against background stars
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"The telescope trick that found Pluto"