1st annual Carl Sagan Day to be celebrated Nov. 7

This November marks the first ever celebration of Carl Sagan Day. Dr. Sagan (November 9, 1934 – December 20, 1996) was an astronomer, astrochemist, exobiologist, author, science popularizer and promoter of SETI (Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence). Best-known, perhaps, as the co-writer and host of the award-winning 1980 television series, Cosmos, this month marks his 75th birthday. A tireless advocate of science, skeptical inquiry, and secular humanism, he was the author of over 600 articles and scientific papers, as well as 20 books. One of the latter, Contact, was made into a major motion picture and released in 1997; only 7 months after his death at age 62. He is generally acknowledged to be one of the 20th century's best-known public faces of astronomy and space science.

 

His life and contributions will be celebrated this November 7th at an all-day event at Florida's Broward College. The program includes teacher workshops, children’s activities, showings of the Cosmos series episodes, food, magic shows, science displays, planetarium programs, telescope workshops, games, door prizes, star-gazing, and (according to their press release) many surprises. Among the scheduled speakers are Phil Plait (creator of the "Bad Astronomy" blog), "the Amazing" James Randi (magician, skeptic and debunker of fake psychics) and David Morrison (senior scientist at the NASA Astrobiology Institute, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA).

 

The event is co-sponsored by the Carl Sagan Day Planning Committee, Broward College, Center for Inquiry, Florida Atheists and Secular Humanists and the James Randi Educational Foundation. All activities are free and open to the public. More information and the schedule of events can be found here.

 

"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known."