Carl Sagan born 92 years ago tomorrow
Carl Sagan, born November 9, 1934, brought astronomy to millions through books and the TV series Cosmos. He also helped create messages from Earth for the Pioneer and Voyager spacecraft. The post Carl Sagan born 92 years ago tomorrow first appeared on EarthSky .
Exactly one hundred and ninety-two years ago, on November 9th, 1934, Carl Sagan was born in Brooklyn, New York. A renowned astronomer and science communicator, Sagan gained fame through his books and the 1980 TV series Cosmos. His contributions extended to planetary science and the American space program, including briefing astronauts for lunar missions and collaborating on Mars exploration missions like Viking.
During his early career, Sagan's work revealed insights about the atmospheres of our solar system's planets, particularly the greenhouse effect on Venus. He famously stated, "We're made of starstuff," emphasizing humanity's connection to the universe. Sagan also played a significant role in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI), collaborating with Soviet astronomer I.S. Shklovskii to expand a book on extraterrestrial life.
In 1968, Sagan faced tenure denial at Harvard, possibly due to his views on extraterrestrial intelligence. He subsequently joined Cornell University, where he spent his entire professional career. Among his many achievements, Sagan helped create messages aboard the Pioneer and Voyager spacecraft, destined to travel into interstellar space. These messages, part of the Pioneer and Voyager Golden Records, contain images, sounds, and greetings from Earth, representing humanity's greatest legacy to the cosmos.
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