Fred Lawrence Whipple
1906 – 2004

Fred Lawrence Whipple

American astronomer

astronomer
Born
1906-11-05, Red Oak
Died
2004-08-30
Birthplace state
Iowa

Biography

Fred Lawrence Whipple was born in Red Oak, Iowa, in 1906 and died in 2004. An astronomer, he spent more than 70 years at the Harvard College Observatory. His work included discoveries of asteroids and comets, the development of the "dirty snowball" hypothesis of comets, and the invention of the Whipple shield.

Occupation

Fred Lawrence Whipple is recorded as a astronomer, born in Iowa (1906–2004).

Connections to Iowa

Fred Lawrence Whipple was born in Red Oak, Iowa in 1906. Explore other notable figures from Iowa, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Fred Lawrence Whipple

Who was Fred Lawrence Whipple?
Fred Lawrence Whipple was American astronomer, born in Iowa (1906 – 2004).
When and where was Fred Lawrence Whipple born?
Fred Lawrence Whipple was born on 1906-11-05 in Red Oak.
When did Fred Lawrence Whipple die?
Fred died on 2004-08-30.
What was Fred Lawrence Whipple known for?
Fred Lawrence Whipple is recorded as a astronomer.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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