Ninety-four years ago, in Flagstaff, Clyde Tombaugh captured the first image of the solar system's most divisive planet.

Pluto retained its status as a planet until 2006, when it was determined that Pluto was too small to qualify as a planet and was reclassified as a dwarf planet.

While the international community has forgotten about Pluto's relevance, Arizona has not, and the state wants to show its gratitude to our heavenly little brother.

born under the same sun

Pluto's discovery began in the 1840s, when French scientists began to speculate that Neptune's orbit might be interrupted by another planet.

No progress was made until 1909, when Percival Lowell, founder of Lowell Observatory, began searching for what he called the mysterious “Planet X.” He was able to take his two images of the Earth by chance before his death in 1916, but never realized their significance.

After Lowell's death, the project was taken over by Clyde Tombaugh, who was able to capture evidence of Pluto's existence on February 18, 1930, and the rest was history.

State bird, state food, and now… state planet?

Although Pluto hasn't been officially recognized as a planet since 2006, Arizona has always been notable for being the smallest member of our solar system.

After a visit to Lowell Observatory last year, Representative Justin Wilmes decided to introduce a bill in the Arizona House of Representatives that would make Pluto the official state planet of Arizona. In justifying his choice, Lowell Observatory researcher Kevin Schindler said, “Pluto, my God, it was discovered here.”

The bill is currently awaiting a vote in the House of Commons, where politicians hope the nation will accept Pluto as a planet even if scientists ignore it.