Gerard Peter Kuiper

Kuiper, Gerard Peter (1905–73), Dutch-born U.S. astronomer who discovered carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of Mars (1948) and satellites of Uranus and Neptune (1948–49). He directed the Ranger space program (early 1960s), which provided close-up photographs of the moon essential in the landing site selection for the moon landings (1969).

See also: Astronomy.