Fred Whipple

Fred Whipple was an American astronomer renowned for his work on comets and planetary science. He developed the "dirty snowball" model, describing comets as icy bodies with rocky and metallic material embedded within, which helped scientists better understand their structure and behavior. Whipple also contributed significantly to asteroid studies and space exploration missions. His innovative ideas and research advanced our knowledge of small Solar System bodies, making him a key figure in planetary science.