Carl Sagan
Picture Gallery
9. 11. 34 - 20. 12. 96
Carl we all miss you
Carl Sagan was born, November 9th, in the year 1934. He grew up in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn, in the city of New York. Even at the early bedtimes he could see the stars in the winters. He asked other people about the night sky but he never got the right answer. When he got his library card, he went out and asked for something about stars. As soon as he read the book he decided to be an astronomer, which he did, like we all know. One of his greatest works, at least I think, is of course the Cosmos book and the tv series. He introduced his audience to some of the most complicated astronomical information. He did it at so perspicuous way, that everybody was spellbounded with its clarity. I really admire that kind of a people. Carl Sagan was an avid proponent of probes to other planets, and the search for extraterrestrial intelligent, and the use of the largest radio telescopes on the Earth. Carl Sagan is probably among one of the most famous astronomer. At least he is widely recognised for his scientific works, and he will probably be most remembered by his efforts to increase scientific literacy. He was an unreligious man. He became a scientist, Professor, astronomer, researcher, storyteller, author, TV series host, lecturer, sceptic, and a visionary. He won the Pulitzer Prize for non-fiction in 1978 for The Dragons of Eden. Which is about speculations on the evolution of human intelligence. In 1980, his 13 part Public Broadcasting Service series Cosmos became one of the most popular series in the history of American public television. Carl Sagan was the David Duncan Professor of Astronomy and Space Science and Director of the Laboratory for Planetary Studies at Cornell University in Itacha in the city of New York. He was an important contributor to the Mariner, Viking and Voyager exploration missions. In the early 1960s he showed that a greenhouse effect should be operating on Venus and calculated its surface temperature to be 500 - 800 Kelvin. He repeated H.C. Urey and S.L. Millerīs experiment of irradiating a gas mixture resembling the Earthīs primordial atmosphere, and found among the products many organic chemicals that are essential to life. Carl Sagan was central to the discovery of the high surface temperatures of Venus and the causes for the observed seasonal changes in the appearance of Mars. The asteroid 2709 Sagan bears his name. He wrote more than 400 published scientific and popular articles. He was awarded the NASA Medals for Exceptional Scientific Achievement, Apollo Achievement Award, and Distinguished Public Service. The International Astronautics prize: the Prix Galbert. The Joseph Priestley Award "for distinguished contributions to the welfare of mankind". The Masursky Award of the American Astronomical Society. And in 1994, the Public Welfare Medal, the highest award of the National Academy of Sciences. He was often chosen chairman of some societies. Chairman of the Division for Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society. Chairman of the Astronomy Section of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. President of the Planetology Section of the American Geophysical Union. Editor in Chief of Icarus, the principal professional journal of Solar System studies. Co-founder and President of the Planetary Society, the largest space-interest group in the world. Carl Sagan got married to Ann Druyan and they had five children. Carl Edward Saganīs death, on December 20th, on Friday, has left us with an empty void that may never be filled. The Pathfinder space-probe was named Carl Saganīs memorial station.
I admire Carl Edward Sagan for many simple reasons. His presentation of the Cosmos TV series made me wonder about almost everything that exist. I got more interested in learning. Especially about, Astronomy, Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, History, Biology, Physiology, and almost everything that has to do with science. He explained the Universe so clearly and simply that I understand. I think that the Cosmos TV series and the Cosmos book, which is based on the 13 part series, is one of his greatest work. Actually I call this book the "Bible" because I think itīs holy. Even my teacher likes this episodes, and my schoolmates think we are crazy.
.