Fred Lawrence Whipple | |
|---|---|
 Fred Lawrence Whipple at age 95 in 2001 or 2002 | |
| Born | November 5, 1906 |
| Died | August 30, 2004 (aged 97) |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | Composition of comets, Whipple shield |
| Awards |  President's Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service (1963) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Astronomy |
| Institutions | Harvard College Observatory |
| 1252 Celestia | 19 February 1933 | list |
Fred Lawrence Whipple (November 5, 1906 – August 30, 2004) was an American astronomer, who worked at the Harvard College Observatory for more than 70 years. Amongst his achievements were asteroid and comet discoveries, the "dirty snowball" hypothesis of comets, and the invention of the Whipple shield.