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Carl Sagan
1934–1996 · Astronomer & Science Communicator
An American astronomer and science communicator who advised NASA missions and inspired millions through the television series Cosmos and the Voyager Golden Record.
“Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it we go nowhere.”
Why is this scientist famous?
Helped shape modern planetary science, chaired the team that selected the Voyager Golden Record's contents, and brought astronomy to a huge public audience through Cosmos.
Sagan helped millions of people become interested in astronomy through his books and the television series Cosmos. As a planetary scientist and NASA adviser, he worked on questions involving Venus, Mars, Titan and the possibility of life beyond Earth. He also chaired the team that chose the contents of the Voyager Golden Record.
Carl's story
Early Life
Born in 1934 in Brooklyn, New York, Sagan was fascinated by the stars from age 5, when he learned that the Sun was a star. He earned his doctorate at the University of Chicago and became a professor at Cornell University, where he spent most of his career.
Planetary Science
Sagan made important contributions to planetary science. His research helped explain Venus's extreme heat as the result of a massive greenhouse effect, seasonal changes on Mars as windblown dust, and Titan's reddish atmospheric haze as the result of complex organic molecules. He also advised or worked with National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) missions including Mariner, Viking, Voyager and Galileo.
The Voyager Golden Record
In 1977 NASA launched the two Voyager spacecraft. Sagan chaired the committee that selected the contents of the Voyager Golden Record. The project was a team effort involving, among others, Frank Drake, Ann Druyan, Timothy Ferris, Jon Lomberg and Linda Salzman Sagan. The record attached to each spacecraft was a phonograph record containing music from around the world, greetings in 55 languages, sounds of Earth, and images. It was a message from humanity to any civilization that might find it, billions of years from now.
Cosmos and Public Science
His 1980 TV series Cosmos became the most-watched PBS series ever, seen by over 500 million people in 60 countries. His novel Contact was made into a film. He co-founded the Planetary Society and spent decades advocating for scientific literacy, nuclear disarmament, and environmental protection. He died of pneumonia in 1996 at age 62.
What did they discover?
Venus's Greenhouse Effect
Sagan's research helped establish that Venus's extreme surface temperature is caused by a powerful greenhouse effect in its carbon-dioxide-rich atmosphere.
The Voyager Golden Record
Chaired the committee that selected the Voyager Golden Record's contents, working with a team of scientists, writers, artists and producers.
Research on Mars and Titan
His planetary research helped explain seasonal changes on Mars as windblown dust and Titan's reddish haze as complex organic molecules.
Amazing facts
He was on the cover of Time magazine in 1980 and appeared on The Tonight Show 26 times.
He popularized the phrase "billions and billions" though he never actually said it on Cosmos — his imitators did.
The Mars rover landing site was named the Carl Sagan Memorial Station after his death.
He was arrested at a nuclear protest in 1986 and spent a night in jail.
He co-founded The Planetary Society in 1980 to promote space exploration and the search for life beyond Earth.
He popularised the phrase 'Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence', sometimes called the Sagan Standard.
Timeline
Born in Brooklyn, New York on November 9
Earned his PhD in astronomy from the University of Chicago
Became director of the Laboratory for Planetary Studies at Cornell
Led creation of the Voyager Golden Record, launched on the Voyager spacecraft
Published the book Cosmos and hosted the TV series, seen by 500 million people
Published the novel Contact, later made into a film with Jodie Foster
Died in Seattle on December 20, age 62
The Mars Pathfinder landing site was named the Carl Sagan Memorial Station
Awards & honours
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