‘Cosmos,’ a pulitzer, and more: fascinating facts about Carl Sagan

Astronomy

By | Joe Wilensky , Cornellians

Noted astronomer Carl Sagan would have turned 90 in 2024. To mark that milestone and honor his legacy, the University and the scientific institute that bears his name hosted a celebration on the Hill in mid-November. (The keynote program can now be watched online.) With those festivities in mind, Cornellians has gathered not quite “billions and billions”—but a plethora—of factoids about the astronomer, who passed away in 1996.

Read on in Cornellians for 14 fascinating facts about Sagan—one of Cornell’s most famous faculty members, and one of the most effective science communicators of all time!

More News from A&S

Clear glass chemistry beakers
Hans Reniers/Unsplash

Carbon dioxide key to making a precise polymer safely

Chemistry and Chemical Biology
Cornell Chronicle
crystal ball reflects a view of a river, upside down
Marc Schulte/Unsplash

In a first, system uses sunlight to power carbon capture

Chemistry and Chemical Biology
Cornell Chronicle
Doctor's stethoscope and blood pressure cuff
Immo Wegmann/Unsplash

Surgeon General nominee is a prescription for ‘pseudoscience’

Psychology
A&S Communications
Cornell undergraduate students diagnosing wine grape diseases in a plant pathology laboratory in Chile.
Cornell undergraduate students diagnosing wine grape diseases in a plant pathology laboratory in Chile in 2018.

Cornell STEM education expert weighs in on NSF funding cuts

A&S Communications
View all news
Person in late-70s chic tan sport coat, touching models of planets
Cornellians/Provided Carl Sagan