Carl Sagan (1934-1996)
American astronomer, astrophysicist, cosmologist, author and popularizer of natural and space science
CARL 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 theMariner, Viking, Voyager, and Galileoexpeditions 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). MORE [The Carl Sagan Portal.
Video posted to YouTube by CarlSaganPortal.
Earth as seen from Apollo 17.
“A mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam . . . ” Carl Sagan
♥
Carl Sagan portrait courtesy of the Carl Sagan Planetary Society and in the Public Domain; Earth photo courtesy of NASA
This post is a part of our participation in 100,000 Poets – and Musicians, Artists and Activists – for Change. Details HERE. Our theme is Peace and Justice.We invite you to participate in this global event by linking in your work with ours. We’ll be collecting all the links in a commemorative page shortly after we close this project on October 3. You may use Mister Linky below or include your link in the comments section. Thank you!
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The BeZine 
This is the most beautiful, most humbling message I have ever listened to. It touched me deeply.
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Reblogged this on A New Day: Living Life Almost Gracefully and commented:
I rarely reblog but this touched me deeply. The beauty of the words spoken brought tears to my eyes and the reality expressed humbled me. Please enrich yourself by viewing this video.
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Thanks again, Pat!
J.
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An Aside: check out quotes from poets in this Interesting Literature post:
http://interestingliterature.com/2014/10/02/10-great-quotations-about-poetry-for-national-poetry-day/
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I think of the word “astonishing” in Carl’s mouth, a word he frequently used in the Cosmos series. Opening himself up to a broader perspective, he had an astonishing view of humanity, beautifully expressed here. Be kind today. 🙂
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He’s the only person I know who can say “astonishing” and “amazing” without those words sounding tright and gratuitous.
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Exactly! But consider his subject matter: they really do apply.
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A lovely collection, Priscilla. Thank you! Dali had a good sense of humor, didn’t he? Happy days ..
J.
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Singularly represents my own perspective of our place in the universe, or the pointlessness of our escapist, displacement activity, the folly of searching for solutions and certainly life on other planets, solar systems and galaxies. The solutions are here, right under our noses, on this place we should call home, our planet earth.
An excellent piece, right on the money for 100K Poets for Change.
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I think there is nothing better to make the point. He says it all. Maybe we should make sure it goes up every year, John. Always brings tears to my eyes. So totally agree with you.
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