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Astronomer Whipple Dead At Age 97

Posted by timothy on Tuesday August 31, 2004 @12:11PM from the sad-to-report dept.

cwaldrip writes "Reuters reports 'Fred Whipple, an astronomer who originated the idea that comets were comprised of ice and mineral dust, has died at the age of 97.' Comets being dirty ice is so accepted today, it's hard to think of alternatives other than solid rock. What alternate theories of cometary composition have there been?"

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Alternative composition by Anonymous Coward · 2004-08-31 12:34 · Score: 3, Funny

What alternate theories of cometary composition have there been?

Actually, if I remember correctly Mr. Whipple was famous for hypothesizing that comets are made of soft, absorbent layers that one couldn't help resist the urge to squeeze.