Draft of letter to Gerard Kuiper
Draft of a letter in which Carl Sagan accepts an offer from Gerard Kuiper to study Mars from the McDonald Observatory in the summer of 1956.
The Evolution of Interstellar Space Flight
This drawing, created by a 10-13 year-old Carl Sagan, presents a vision for space flight as a collage of newspaper headlines from the future. Some of the headlines announce technological developments, like an ... More
Is there life on Earth? : note - Public domain document scan
In this document, Carl Sagan describes the lumens (a unit of measure for visible light) given off by various cities in California. From Carl Sagan's "ideas riding" files, a play on "ideas writing." These files ... More
Nature of the clouds of Venus : note
In this document, Carl Sagan considers the properties of the clouds of Venus. He notes that the clouds "are not water, because the temperature of the clouds of Venus is so large that much of the water vapor wou... More
An astronomical observatory on Mars : note
In this document, Carl Sagan suggests "an astronomical observatory on Mars would permit observations of astronomical parallaxes to be improved by about fifty percent." From Carl Sagan's "ideas riding" files, a ... More
Letter from Charles A. Berry to Carl Sagan regarding a proposed biolog...
Charles A. Berry thanks Carl Sagan for his work on a biology training program for Apollo program astronauts and invites Sagan to further participate in facilitating the training program.
Letter to David Morrison - Public domain document scan
Carl Sagan expresses that he is sorry that David Morrison will not be able to work alongside him in the coming year. He hopes that, the 4,000 miles between Cornell University and the University of Hawaii will n... More
"For Viking file" note - Public domain document scan
Note written for Sagan's "Viking file" discussing the possibility of life on Mars.
Letter to David Morrison - Public domain document scan
Carl Sagan thanks David Morrison for sending information about Physics 111, the introductory special topics course in astronomy David Morrison taught at the University of Hawaii.
Interstellar music : note - Public domain document scan
In this document, Carl Sagan ponders if interstellar communication might not be "messages but music." He notes that "there are phenomena from the atomic to the stellar and galactic where harmonies and resonance... More
Why are clouds white? : note - Public domain document scan
In this document, Carl Sagan asks "why are clouds white?" He notes "It is certainly not an exact compensation by absorption for the solar spectrum, because the compensation would have to be too precise." From C... More
Stages of galactic history with respect to extraterrestrial intelligen...
In this document, Carl Sagan imagines the history of the galaxy with respect to extraterrestrial intelligence. He mentions the first generation of stars, the formation of planets, the evolution of stars, the de... More
Some whale music is very much like cello music : note
In this document, Carl Sagan notes similarities between whale song and cello music. He suggests it "would be a good idea to position Mstislav Rostropovich on poop-deck of a fast Caribbean boat and have him harm... More
Letter to Neil Tyson - Public domain document scan
Carl Sagan writes to Neil deGrasse Tyson, then a senior at The Bronx High School of Science in New York City. Sagan suggests that given Tyson's resume he could engage in real astronomical research as an undergr... More
Letter to Steven Wall. NASA public domain image colelction.
Sagan explains he is concerned about the "somewhat remote" possibility that there might be nocturnal Martian organisms that the Viking Lander might not be able to capture in photographs taken in the dim light o... More
Jovian radio organisms : note - Public domain document scan
In this document, Carl Sagan records a "very speculative idea." He suggests extremely large organisms on Jupiter could use radio waves for inter-organism communication. From Carl Sagan's "ideas riding" files, a... More
Letter to Neil Tyson - Public domain document scan
Carl Sagan thanks Neil deGrasse Tyson for sending him a copy of the Bronx High School of Science Physical Science Journal.
Letter from Neil Tyson - Public domain document scan
Neil deGrasse Tyson writes to Carl Sagan to inform him that he has decided to attend Harvard University. Tyson offers his gratitude for the hospitality Sagan showed him when he met with him at Cornell.
Letter to Neil Tyson - Public domain document scan
Carl Sagan congratulates Neil deGrasse Tyson on being admitted to Harvard and asks him to keep him posted about his progress in school.
Letter to Brown University Admissions Office
Carl Sagan recommends David Grinspoon for admission into the undergraduate program at Brown University. Sagan describes Grinspoon as "bright, cheerful, hardworking, eclectic in his interests, and possessed of a... More
Letter from Neil Tyson - Public domain document scan
Neil deGrasse Tyson writes to Carl Sagan about his first year as an undergraduate student at Harvard University.
Letter to David Grinspoon - Public domain document scan
Carl Sagan writes to David Grinspoon, then an undergraduate student at Brown University asking if he could help Sagan find a copy of a book containing seventeen articles on astronomy by science fiction author H... More
Briefing notes for President Carter and Vice President Walter Mondale
A handwritten note Carl Sagan used to brief President Jimmy Carter and Vice President Walter Mondale. The note is written on Watergate Hotel stationary. It includes the terms exploration, wonder, the origin of ... More
Alternate high tech Mayan universe : note
In this document, Carl Sagan briefly describes an idea to show "alternate universes" with "Mayan high technology" in the television series Cosmos: A personal voyage. This includes "a space vehicle named and dec... More
Letter to David Grinspoon - Public domain document scan
Carl Sagan thanks David Grinspoon, then an undergraduate student at Brown University, for sending a book of science fiction author H.P. Lovecraft's writings on astronomy. Sagan then invites Grinspoon apply for ... More
Two possible replacement titles for "Man and the cosmos" : note
In this document, Carl Sagan suggests two different potential names for the television series he was working on, then tentatively called "Man and the cosmos." He considers renaming it "There" [with some subtitl... More
Letter to Seymour Abrahamson regarding Hermann Muller
Sagan explains the important role that Hermann Muller played in his intellectual development. Noting that Muller encouraged him to study the origin of life and exobiology and introduced him to Harold Urey. Saga... More
Letter of recommendation for David Grinspoon, to Dr. Alex Woronow
Carl Sagan recommends David Grinspoon for the graduate program in planetary sciences at the University of Arizona. Sagan reflects on Grinspoon's work as an assistant to the Voyager Imaging Team.
Alien united nations : note - Public domain document scan
A short note from Carl Sagan on the need to "figure out how to live with high technology" and "avoid nuclear war." Sagan suggests that "there are at this moment a million advanced civilizations in the Milky Wa... More
Scientists tithe time to science education : note
In this document, Carl Sagan suggests scientists should tithe ten percent of their time to public science education to safeguard future funding and support for science. From Carl Sagan's "ideas riding" files, a... More
Diagram of all space and time - Public domain document scan
A hand drawn diagram from Carl Sagan representing all of space and time. The X axis represents time, going into the future and into the past and the Y axis represents scale, from the size of the electron to the... More
Birthday letter to Chuck Berry - Public domain document scan
Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan wish Chuck Berry a happy 60th birthday. They note that his music "will live forever" because his performance of "Johnny B. Goode" are included on the Voyager interstellar records attac... More
Letter to Neil Tyson - Public domain document scan
Carl Sagan writes back to Neil deGrasse Tyson thanking him for copies of draft material for Tyson's book Merlin's tour of the universe, for which Tyson is seeking out a publisher. Sagan complements and congratu... More
Letter to Larry Esposito, recommending David Grinspoon for a tenure tr...
Carl Sagan unreservedly recommends David Grinspoon for a tenure-track position at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Letter from Carl Sagan to Carolyn Porco
Public domain image related to Carl Sagan, science, astronomy, physics, astrophysics, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Memo to Ann Druyan, George Miller & Linda Obost concerning religious d...
In a memo addressed to Ann Druyan, George Miller & Linda Obost Carl Sagan suggests that the social, cultural and religious differences dividing humanity on Earth would likely seem trivial and irrelevant in the ... More
Recommendation for the promotion of Carolyn Porco to full professor at...
In this letter, Carl Sagan supports Carolyn Porco's case for promotion to full professor at the University of Arizona. Sagan focuses on the important role Porco played on the Cassini Imaging Science Team.
Extraterrestrial objects of possible biological interest : notebook
This notebook includes a handwritten set of notes on the possibility of life in our solar system. It includes consideration of Mercury, Venus, Jovian planets, satellites of Jovian planets, and comets.
Letter from Neil Tyson with enclosures
Neil deGrasse Tyson writes to Carl Sagan for recommendations for an agent or publisher he might contact about turning a series of Q & A pieces he wrote for Star date the astronomy news report into an illustrate... More
Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space : second draft
The second of twenty full drafts of Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space, published in 1994. Sagan discusses the history of astronomy and considers the future of humanity in space, arguing that... More
The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark : draft
A full draft of Carl Sagan's book, The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark, published in 1995. Intended for a general audience, the book focuses on distinguishing science from pseudoscience, fo... More
Extraterrestrial objects of possible biological interest : notebook
This notebook includes a handwritten set of notes on the possibility of life in our solar system. It includes consideration of Mercury, Venus, Jovian planets, satellites of Jovian planets, and comets.
Letter from Neil Tyson with enclosures
Neil deGrasse Tyson writes to Carl Sagan for recommendations for an agent or publisher he might contact about turning a series of Q & A pieces he wrote for Star date the astronomy news report into an illustrate... More
Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space : second draft
The second of twenty full drafts of Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space, published in 1994. Sagan discusses the history of astronomy and considers the future of humanity in space, arguing that... More
The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark : draft
A full draft of Carl Sagan's book, The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark, published in 1995. Intended for a general audience, the book focuses on distinguishing science from pseudoscience, fo... More
Extraterrestrial objects of possible biological interest : notebook
This notebook includes a handwritten set of notes on the possibility of life in our solar system. It includes consideration of Mercury, Venus, Jovian planets, satellites of Jovian planets, and comets.
Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space : second draft
The second of twenty full drafts of Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space, published in 1994. Sagan discusses the history of astronomy and considers the future of humanity in space, arguing that... More
The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark : draft
A full draft of Carl Sagan's book, The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark, published in 1995. Intended for a general audience, the book focuses on distinguishing science from pseudoscience, fo... More
Extraterrestrial objects of possible biological interest : notebook
This notebook includes a handwritten set of notes on the possibility of life in our solar system. It includes consideration of Mercury, Venus, Jovian planets, satellites of Jovian planets, and comets.
Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space : second draft
The second of twenty full drafts of Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space, published in 1994. Sagan discusses the history of astronomy and considers the future of humanity in space, arguing that... More
The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark : draft
A full draft of Carl Sagan's book, The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark, published in 1995. Intended for a general audience, the book focuses on distinguishing science from pseudoscience, fo... More
Extraterrestrial objects of possible biological interest : notebook
This notebook includes a handwritten set of notes on the possibility of life in our solar system. It includes consideration of Mercury, Venus, Jovian planets, satellites of Jovian planets, and comets.
Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space : second draft
The second of twenty full drafts of Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space, published in 1994. Sagan discusses the history of astronomy and considers the future of humanity in space, arguing that... More
The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark : draft
A full draft of Carl Sagan's book, The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark, published in 1995. Intended for a general audience, the book focuses on distinguishing science from pseudoscience, fo... More
Extraterrestrial objects of possible biological interest : notebook
This notebook includes a handwritten set of notes on the possibility of life in our solar system. It includes consideration of Mercury, Venus, Jovian planets, satellites of Jovian planets, and comets.
Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space : second draft
The second of twenty full drafts of Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space, published in 1994. Sagan discusses the history of astronomy and considers the future of humanity in space, arguing that... More
The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark : draft
A full draft of Carl Sagan's book, The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark, published in 1995. Intended for a general audience, the book focuses on distinguishing science from pseudoscience, fo... More
Extraterrestrial objects of possible biological interest : notebook
This notebook includes a handwritten set of notes on the possibility of life in our solar system. It includes consideration of Mercury, Venus, Jovian planets, satellites of Jovian planets, and comets.
Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space : second draft
The second of twenty full drafts of Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space, published in 1994. Sagan discusses the history of astronomy and considers the future of humanity in space, arguing that... More
The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark : draft
A full draft of Carl Sagan's book, The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark, published in 1995. Intended for a general audience, the book focuses on distinguishing science from pseudoscience, fo... More
Extraterrestrial objects of possible biological interest : notebook
This notebook includes a handwritten set of notes on the possibility of life in our solar system. It includes consideration of Mercury, Venus, Jovian planets, satellites of Jovian planets, and comets.
Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space : second draft
The second of twenty full drafts of Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space, published in 1994. Sagan discusses the history of astronomy and considers the future of humanity in space, arguing that... More
The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark : draft
A full draft of Carl Sagan's book, The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark, published in 1995. Intended for a general audience, the book focuses on distinguishing science from pseudoscience, fo... More
Extraterrestrial objects of possible biological interest : notebook
This notebook includes a handwritten set of notes on the possibility of life in our solar system. It includes consideration of Mercury, Venus, Jovian planets, satellites of Jovian planets, and comets.
Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space : second draft
The second of twenty full drafts of Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space, published in 1994. Sagan discusses the history of astronomy and considers the future of humanity in space, arguing that... More
The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark : draft
A full draft of Carl Sagan's book, The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark, published in 1995. Intended for a general audience, the book focuses on distinguishing science from pseudoscience, fo... More
Extraterrestrial objects of possible biological interest : notebook
This notebook includes a handwritten set of notes on the possibility of life in our solar system. It includes consideration of Mercury, Venus, Jovian planets, satellites of Jovian planets, and comets.
Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space : second draft
The second of twenty full drafts of Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space, published in 1994. Sagan discusses the history of astronomy and considers the future of humanity in space, arguing that... More
The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark : draft
A full draft of Carl Sagan's book, The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark, published in 1995. Intended for a general audience, the book focuses on distinguishing science from pseudoscience, fo... More
Extraterrestrial objects of possible biological interest : notebook
This notebook includes a handwritten set of notes on the possibility of life in our solar system. It includes consideration of Mercury, Venus, Jovian planets, satellites of Jovian planets, and comets.
Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space : second draft
The second of twenty full drafts of Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space, published in 1994. Sagan discusses the history of astronomy and considers the future of humanity in space, arguing that... More
The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark : draft
A full draft of Carl Sagan's book, The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark, published in 1995. Intended for a general audience, the book focuses on distinguishing science from pseudoscience, fo... More
Extraterrestrial objects of possible biological interest : notebook
This notebook includes a handwritten set of notes on the possibility of life in our solar system. It includes consideration of Mercury, Venus, Jovian planets, satellites of Jovian planets, and comets.
Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space : second draft
The second of twenty full drafts of Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space, published in 1994. Sagan discusses the history of astronomy and considers the future of humanity in space, arguing that... More
The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark : draft
A full draft of Carl Sagan's book, The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark, published in 1995. Intended for a general audience, the book focuses on distinguishing science from pseudoscience, fo... More
Extraterrestrial objects of possible biological interest : notebook
This notebook includes a handwritten set of notes on the possibility of life in our solar system. It includes consideration of Mercury, Venus, Jovian planets, satellites of Jovian planets, and comets.
Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space : second draft
The second of twenty full drafts of Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space, published in 1994. Sagan discusses the history of astronomy and considers the future of humanity in space, arguing that... More
The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark : draft
A full draft of Carl Sagan's book, The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark, published in 1995. Intended for a general audience, the book focuses on distinguishing science from pseudoscience, fo... More
Extraterrestrial objects of possible biological interest : notebook
This notebook includes a handwritten set of notes on the possibility of life in our solar system. It includes consideration of Mercury, Venus, Jovian planets, satellites of Jovian planets, and comets.
Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space : second draft
The second of twenty full drafts of Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space, published in 1994. Sagan discusses the history of astronomy and considers the future of humanity in space, arguing that... More
The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark : draft
A full draft of Carl Sagan's book, The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark, published in 1995. Intended for a general audience, the book focuses on distinguishing science from pseudoscience, fo... More
Extraterrestrial objects of possible biological interest : notebook
This notebook includes a handwritten set of notes on the possibility of life in our solar system. It includes consideration of Mercury, Venus, Jovian planets, satellites of Jovian planets, and comets.
Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space : second draft
The second of twenty full drafts of Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space, published in 1994. Sagan discusses the history of astronomy and considers the future of humanity in space, arguing that... More
The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark : draft
A full draft of Carl Sagan's book, The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark, published in 1995. Intended for a general audience, the book focuses on distinguishing science from pseudoscience, fo... More
Extraterrestrial objects of possible biological interest : notebook
This notebook includes a handwritten set of notes on the possibility of life in our solar system. It includes consideration of Mercury, Venus, Jovian planets, satellites of Jovian planets, and comets.
Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space : second draft
The second of twenty full drafts of Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space, published in 1994. Sagan discusses the history of astronomy and considers the future of humanity in space, arguing that... More
The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark : draft
A full draft of Carl Sagan's book, The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark, published in 1995. Intended for a general audience, the book focuses on distinguishing science from pseudoscience, fo... More
Extraterrestrial objects of possible biological interest : notebook
This notebook includes a handwritten set of notes on the possibility of life in our solar system. It includes consideration of Mercury, Venus, Jovian planets, satellites of Jovian planets, and comets.
Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space : second draft
The second of twenty full drafts of Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space, published in 1994. Sagan discusses the history of astronomy and considers the future of humanity in space, arguing that... More
The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark : draft
A full draft of Carl Sagan's book, The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark, published in 1995. Intended for a general audience, the book focuses on distinguishing science from pseudoscience, fo... More
Extraterrestrial objects of possible biological interest : notebook
This notebook includes a handwritten set of notes on the possibility of life in our solar system. It includes consideration of Mercury, Venus, Jovian planets, satellites of Jovian planets, and comets.
Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space : second draft
The second of twenty full drafts of Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space, published in 1994. Sagan discusses the history of astronomy and considers the future of humanity in space, arguing that... More
The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark : draft
A full draft of Carl Sagan's book, The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark, published in 1995. Intended for a general audience, the book focuses on distinguishing science from pseudoscience, fo... More
Extraterrestrial objects of possible biological interest : notebook
This notebook includes a handwritten set of notes on the possibility of life in our solar system. It includes consideration of Mercury, Venus, Jovian planets, satellites of Jovian planets, and comets.
Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space : second draft
The second of twenty full drafts of Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space, published in 1994. Sagan discusses the history of astronomy and considers the future of humanity in space, arguing that... More
The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark : draft
A full draft of Carl Sagan's book, The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark, published in 1995. Intended for a general audience, the book focuses on distinguishing science from pseudoscience, fo... More
Extraterrestrial objects of possible biological interest : notebook
This notebook includes a handwritten set of notes on the possibility of life in our solar system. It includes consideration of Mercury, Venus, Jovian planets, satellites of Jovian planets, and comets.
Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space : second draft
The second of twenty full drafts of Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space, published in 1994. Sagan discusses the history of astronomy and considers the future of humanity in space, arguing that... More
The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark : draft
A full draft of Carl Sagan's book, The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark, published in 1995. Intended for a general audience, the book focuses on distinguishing science from pseudoscience, fo... More
Extraterrestrial objects of possible biological interest : notebook
This notebook includes a handwritten set of notes on the possibility of life in our solar system. It includes consideration of Mercury, Venus, Jovian planets, satellites of Jovian planets, and comets.