Carl Sagan

Carl Sagan was an American astronomer and science communicator. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1934. He made a famous TV show called Cosmos. He helped everyday people understand the wonders of space.

Early Life

Sagan became fascinated with the stars as a young boy. His parents took him to the 1939 World's Fair, which sparked his love of science. He studied physics and astronomy in college. He became a professor at Cornell University.

A young Carl Sagan in his high school yearbook photo.
A young Carl Sagan in his high school yearbook photo. (Rahway High School / Wikimedia Commons)

Big Achievements

Sagan worked with NASA on several space missions. He helped choose the messages placed on the Voyager spacecraft. His TV show Cosmos was watched by over 500 million people. He wrote many popular books about science and the universe.

Fun Facts

  • Sagan helped create the golden record that was sent into space on the Voyager spacecraft.
  • He often said the phrase 'billions and billions' on his TV show.
  • Sagan wrote a novel called Contact that was later made into a movie.

Did You Know?

The Voyager golden record carries sounds and images from Earth. It includes greetings in 55 languages, music from around the world, and pictures of life on our planet. Sagan hoped aliens might find it someday.