Arizona Rebels Against NASA

94 years ago in Flagstaff, Clyde Tombaugh captured the first look at the most divisive planet in our solar system.

Pluto held its planetary status up until 2006, when it was decided to be too small to stand as its planet, and was reclassified as a dwarf planet.

While the international community has forgotten Pluto's relevance, Arizona hasn't, and the state wants to show its gratitude to our celestial little brother.

Born Under the Same Sun

Pluto's discovery began in the 1840s when French scientists began to speculate that Neptune's orbit was being disrupted by another planet.

No progress was made until 1909 when Percival Lowell, founder of Lowell Observatory, began the search for what he called the mysterious "Planet X". He was able to accidentally capture two images of the planet before he died in 1916, but never recognized their significance.

After Lowell's passing, the project was handed to Clyde Tombaugh who, on February 18th, 1930, was able to capture proof of Pluto's existence, and the rest is history.

State Birds, State Foods, and Now... State Planets?

Pluto has not been officially recognized as a planet since 2006, but Arizona has always had a soft spot for the smallest member of our solar system.

After a trip to Lowell Observatory last year, Rep. Justin Wilmeth decided to introduce a bill into the Arizona House that would make Pluto the official state planet of Arizona. When justifying the choice, Lowell Observatory researcher Kevin Schindler stated "Pluto, darn it, it was discovered here."

The bill is currently waiting on a floor vote in the house, and politicians hope that the state will accept Pluto as a planet, even if scientists have kicked it to the curb.