Naming Pluto

Naming Pluto is a UK 13 minute documentary about Venetia Burney Phair, the English schoolgirl who named the planet Pluto in 1930, aged 11years.

Featuring Sir Patrick Moore, Dr. Allan Chapman, the Royal Astronomical Society and NASA, Naming Pluto looks back at the extraordinary human story of a young girl who made astronomical history and witnesses her long awaited reunion with planet she named, 77 years later, on the evening of her 89th birthday.

A debut film for director/producer Ginita Jimenez, Naming Pluto has won the hearts of 33 International Film & Science festivals in 14 countries. From July 2009, clips of Naming Pluto will feature in the British Science Museum's Cosmos and Culture Exhibition giving 1million children access to Venetia's story in the next 2 years.

"This is a masterpiece. I'm biased of course but I marvel at the very skilful blending of erudite information & human interest."

Venetia Burney Phair

"What an excellent film. It is historically accurate, it is charming, it is so well shot and produced. It is also unique!"

Sir Patrick Moore - astronomer, broadcaster and co-author of Out of Darkness: The Planet Pluto - with Pluto's discoverer, Clyde Tombaugh

"Naming Pluto is a fabulous tribute, not only to Venetia, but to the astronomical process. Although Pluto has undergone a change in status these last few years, it remains an important, permanent feature of the Solar System. This well-crafted story gives the viewer an excellent overview of Pluto's discovery, naming and the magic it holds today for the 9 year-olds at St. Anne's to Venetia who named the planet nearly 80 years ago"

Ian O'Neill - Universe Today

"This heart-warming account will surely inspire all who watch it."

Keith Cooper - Astronomy Now

"It's a film for all ages. It's a film about a real story, with real astronomy experts, in celebration of the 2009 International Year of Astronomy."

Dr George Reed

Astronomy Professor Emeritus West Chester University (PA)

Venetia passed away on 30th April 2009, aged 90 and will be sadly missed.

Watch the trailer

Naming Pluto is a production of Father Films