Venetia Burney and her grandfather (Falconer Madan, a librarian at the Bodleian Library of Oxford University) were discussing a newspaper article, in The Times, about the newly discovered ninth major planet to our solar system. The discovery confirmed the late Dr. Percival Lowell’s belief that such a planet existed.

When Venetia’s grandfather asked what she thought the planet should be name, she excitedly suggested, “Why not call it Pluto?” Her answer was based on four points.
One, she knew that the planet would be in darkness since it was so far away from the sun.
Two, she had recently read about the mythological Roman God of the dark underworld.
Three, she knew that all the planets were named after mythological figures.
Four, she thought the name would be especially appropriate because its first two letters were Dr. Percival Lowell’s initials.

Venetia’s grandfather thought that her suggestion was such a good idea, that he sent it to the Royal Astronomical Society. They officially accepted it.  Venetia is the only female to have named a planet.

In 2006, Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet, since it didn’t meet all the requirements of a planet. That same year, in Venetia’s honor, a student-built science instrument on the New Horizons mission to Pluto was renamed the Venetia Burney Student Dust Counter, or “Venetia” for short.
(Oxford, England: 1930)