Tribute To Carl Sagan – One Of The Greatest Scientists To Have Ever Walked The Earth

MessageToEagle.com – This article is written in memory of one of the greatest minds ever – Carl Sagan.

Today is namely the 81st birthday of Carl Sagan (1934-96), and there is no doubt that this great man holds a special place in the heart of anyone who is truly interested in the many wonders and beauties of the Universe.

With his brilliant wisdom and charismatic voice Carl Sagan captivated millions of people around the world who could sit and listen to him for hours.

His ability to capture the imagination of millions and to explain difficult concepts in understandable terms is a magnificent achievement. The echo of his voice is still alive through his books, videos and many wise quotes. Carl Sagan was more than a just brilliant scientist. He was in many ways a man ahead of his time and he will never be forgotten.

Carl Edward Sagan was an American astronomer, cosmologist, astrophysicist, astrobiologist, author, science popularizer, and science communicator in astronomy and other natural sciences.

Sagan was the David Duncan Professor of Astronomy and Space Sciences and Director of the Laboratory for Planetary Studies at Cornell University. He played a leading role in the American space program since its inception. He was a consultant and adviser to NASA since the 1950’s, briefed the Apollo astronauts before their flights to the Moon, and was an experimenter on the Mariner, Viking, Voyager, and Galileo expeditions to the planets. He helped solve the mysteries of the high temperatures of Venus (answer: massive greenhouse effect), the seasonal changes on Mars (answer: windblown dust), and the reddish haze of Titan (answer: complex organic molecules).

Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it we go nowhere.

~ Carl Sagan

For his work, Dr. Sagan received the NASA medals for Exceptional Scientific Achievement and (twice) for Distinguished Public Service, as well as the NASA Apollo Achievement Award. Asteroid 2709 Sagan is named after him.

The universe is not required to be in perfect harmony with human ambition.

~ Carl Sagan

He was also awarded the John F. Kennedy Astronautics Award of the American Astronautical Society, the Explorers Club 75th Anniversary Award, the Konstantin Tsiolkovsky Medal of the Soviet Cosmonauts Federation, and the Masursky Award of the American Astronomical Society, (“for his extraordinary contributions to the development of planetary science…As a scientist trained in both astronomy and biology, Dr. Sagan has made seminal contributions to the study of planetary atmospheres, planetary surfaces, the history of the Earth, and exobiology. Many of the most productive planetary scientists working today are his present and former students and associates”).

Who are we? We find that we live on an insignificant planet of a humdrum star lost in a galaxy tucked away in some forgotten corner of a universe in which there are far more galaxies than people.

~ Carl Sagan

He was also a recipient of the Public Welfare Medal, the highest award of the National Academy of Sciences (for “distinguished contributions in the application of science to the public welfare…

Rest in peace Carl Sagan and thank you for all the knowledge and wise words you have brought into our lives. We will keep your everlasting heroic legacy alive and rest assured that you are remembered and will never be forgotten…

MessageToEagle.com

References:

The Carl Sagan Portal

Voyager Record

All Sounds from The Golden Record

Golden Proverbs – Carl Sagan Quotes