Thomas Bopp
1949 – 2018

Thomas Bopp

American astronomer (1949–2018)

astronomer
Born
1949-10-15, Denver
Died
2018-01-05
Birthplace state
Colorado

Biography

Thomas Joel Bopp was born in Denver, Colorado in 1949 and died in 2018. An amateur astronomer, he discovered comet Hale–Bopp in 1995 on the night of July 22 while observing the sky with friends in the Arizona desert using a borrowed, home-built telescope; Alan Hale made an independent discovery at nearly the same time, leading to the comet being named after both astronomers. At the time of the discovery, Bopp worked as a manager at a construction materials factory.

Occupation

Thomas Bopp is recorded as a astronomer, born in Colorado (1949–2018).

Connections to Colorado

Thomas Bopp was born in Denver, Colorado in 1949. Explore other notable figures from Colorado, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Colorado›Coloradohistory ›Historic sites in Colorado›
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Denver

Thomas Bopp came from Denver. A full Aubrey report on Denver pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
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.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Denver report
Or see a real report first

More notable figures from Colorado

Other historical figures born in Colorado, ranked by historical prominence.

Willard Libby
Willard Libby
American physical chemist
Ken Kesey
Ken Kesey
American novelist (1935–2001)
Douglas Fairbanks
Douglas Fairbanks
American actor, screenwriter, director, and producer (1883–1939)
Talcott Parsons
Talcott Parsons
American sociologist (1902 – 1979)
Edward Lawrie Tatum
Edward Lawrie Tatum
US genetics scientist (1909-1975)
John Searle
John Searle
American philosopher (1932–2025)
Ruth Handler
Ruth Handler
American businesswoman

Frequently asked about Thomas Bopp

Who was Thomas Bopp?
Thomas Bopp was American astronomer (1949–2018), born in Colorado (1949 – 2018).
When and where was Thomas Bopp born?
Thomas Bopp was born on 1949-10-15 in Denver.
When did Thomas Bopp die?
Thomas died on 2018-01-05.
What was Thomas Bopp known for?
Thomas Bopp is recorded as a astronomer.
Source

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

Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your locationView a free sample report