Who coined the descriptive term "dirty snowball" for the solid part of a comet?
Answer
Fred Whipple
The apt description of a comet's solid structure as a "dirty snowball" was introduced by the astronomer Fred Whipple. This term effectively captures the nature of the nucleus, which is not merely a solid rock but a porous, fragile aggregation dominated by frozen volatiles (ice) mixed thoroughly with non-volatile dust and rocky grains. The moniker remains relevant because it conveys both the icy base and the admixture of solid debris.
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