Sagan's notebook, 1969 - Public domain document scan
From November 24th, 1969 to January 12th 1970 Carl Sagan kept this running journal of his thoughts. It begins, "A little past my 35th birthday I thought it might be nice to set down systematically some ideas, m... More
Collection of Carl Sagan's notes
A folder of loose notes from Carl Sagan. They include notes on planetary temperatures, the clouds of Venus, and spectroscopy.
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
Sagan with Viking lander model. NASA public domain image colelction.
Photograph of Carl Sagan standing next to a model of the Viking lander in Death Valley, California.
The prospects for life on Mars: A post Mariner 9 assessment : draft
In this paper, Sagan reflects on the prospect of finding life on Mars in the wake of the Mariner 9 NASA mission. It reviews historical ideas of evidence for life on Mars and offers suggestions for what future m... More
In praise of Arthur C. Clarke : revised draft of essay
Carl Sagan reflects on Arthur C. Clarke's impact on the world, discussing his contributions to the development of communications satellites and the film, 2001; a space odyssey, based on the screenplay by Clarke... More
Some points on the origin of life: draft : notebook
Handwritten draft of a paper on the origin of life in the universe. Written in a notebook it also includes a set of lose notes and graph paper. It includes consideration of the formation of the galaxy, the orig... More
Astronomy 170, Harvard University : lecture notes
A set of lecture notes for Astronomy 170, a planetary science course Carl Sagan taught at Harvard University. His lecture notes touch on a range of issues in the study of the planets including, possibilities of... More
Carl Sagan at M.I.T. - A black and white photo of a man with a dog
Photograph of Carl Sagan taken in the Kresge Auditorium at M.I.T. A copy of this photo appeared in an article called "Carl Sagan speaks to audience about Mars" in M.I.T.'s newspaper The tech.
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
Venus surface temperatures : draft : notebook
Handwritten draft of a paper on the surface temperatures of Venus written in a notebook. Three primary sections focus on heat conduction in a semi infinite solid, the thermal properties of matter, and plane ele... More
Sagan's notebook, 1969 - Public domain document scan
From November 24th, 1969 to January 12th 1970 Carl Sagan kept this running journal of his thoughts. It begins, "A little past my 35th birthday I thought it might be nice to set down systematically some ideas, m... 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
Direct contact among galactic civilizations by relativistic interstell...
A draft of Sagan's paper, "Direct contact among galactic civilizations by relativistic interstellar spaceflight." The paper explores models for the distribution of technical civilizations in the galaxy. Using F... More
Letter from Neil Tyson - Public domain document scan
Neil deGrasse Tyson writes to thank Carl Sagan for his suggestions for two literary agents he could contact regarding his book tentatively titled Merlin's tour of the universe, published in 1989.
Collection of Carl Sagan's notes
A folder of loose notes from Carl Sagan. They include notes on planetary temperatures, the clouds of Venus, and spectroscopy.
Collection of Carl Sagan's notes
A folder of loose notes from Carl Sagan. They include notes on planetary temperatures, the clouds of Venus, and spectroscopy.
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.
Draft of Harold Clayton Urey obituary for Icarus
Draft of obituary written by Sagan for one of his mentor's Harold Clayton Urey. Sagan discusses Urey's contributions to the field of planetary science and recounts how he met Urey while he was a student at the ... More
Direct contact among galactic civilizations by relativistic interstell...
A draft of Sagan's paper, "Direct contact among galactic civilizations by relativistic interstellar spaceflight." The paper explores models for the distribution of technical civilizations in the galaxy. Using F... More
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
In praise of Arthur C. Clarke : initial draft of essay
Carl Sagan reflects on Arthur C. Clarke's impact on the world, discussing his contributions to the development of communications satellites and the film, 2001; a space odyssey, based on the screenplay by Clarke... More
Collection of Carl Sagan's notes
A folder of loose notes from Carl Sagan. They include notes on planetary temperatures, the clouds of Venus, and spectroscopy.
Wawawhack, the Rahway High School student newspaper, Vol. VI, No. 5.
Issue of Wawawhack, the Rahway High School student newspaper, containing a "Student spotlight" article touting Carl Sagan's accomplishments as a high school student. This issue was found inside the front cover ... More
Portrait of the solar system : paper outline
A rough outline of an essay by Carolyn Porco on the "drama, historic significance, and scientific importance of the Voyager mission."
For future time and beings : draft essay
A draft of the essay Carl Sagan contributed to the book Murmurs of Earth : the Voyager interstellar record published in 1978. In the essay, Sagan describes the goals of the Voyager Golden Records. Voyager Gold... More
Carl Sagan at M.I.T. - A white sheet of paper sitting on top of a tabl...
Photograph of Carl Sagan taken in the Kresge Auditorium at M.I.T. A copy of this photo appeared in an article called "Carl Sagan speaks to audience about Mars" in M.I.T.'s newspaper The tech.
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
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
Martian water : student paper draft
A student paper by David Morrison focused on determining the quantity of free water on Mars.
Astronomy 490, Cornell University : course materials
A course syllabus, list of course books and sessions and a copy of the final for Carl Sagan's course "Critical thinking in scientific and non-scientific contexts" at Cornell University. Topics include logic, rh... More
The gift of Apollo : draft essay
A draft essay commemorating the Apollo missions. Written for Parade magazine, a version of this piece reappears as a section in Sagan's book Pale blue dot : a vision of the human future in space. The essay mixe... 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
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
Portrait of the solar system : paper outline
A rough outline of an essay by Carolyn Porco on the "drama, historic significance, and scientific importance of the Voyager mission."
Venus surface temperatures : draft : notebook
Handwritten draft of a paper on the surface temperatures of Venus written in a notebook. Three primary sections focus on heat conduction in a semi infinite solid, the thermal properties of matter, and plane ele... More
Astronomy 170, Harvard University : lecture notes
A set of lecture notes for Astronomy 170, a planetary science course Carl Sagan taught at Harvard University. His lecture notes touch on a range of issues in the study of the planets including, possibilities of... More
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.
Draft of Harold Clayton Urey obituary for Icarus
Draft of obituary written by Sagan for one of his mentor's Harold Clayton Urey. Sagan discusses Urey's contributions to the field of planetary science and recounts how he met Urey while he was a student at the ... More
Advocating science and hope : draft essay
A draft of an essay written for the Washington Post Book World. The final version was titled "With science on our side." In the essay, Sagan traces his desire to become a scientist back to elementary school, n... More
Outline for a project studying Mars
A short outline of a project exploring surface temperatures, the polar ice caps, and the atmosphere of Mars that David Morrison created while a graduate student at Harvard University.
Cosmos: A personal voyage script draft, sequence 7/3, Brooklyn Park
This script for sequence three of episode seven of the television program Cosmos: A personal journey. The episode is titled "The Backbone of night." The sequence explores Sagan's early childhood experiences wit... More
Astronomy 170, Harvard University : lecture notes
A set of lecture notes for Astronomy 170, a planetary science course Carl Sagan taught at Harvard University. His lecture notes touch on a range of issues in the study of the planets including, possibilities of... More
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
Ann Druyan letter to the press - Public domain document scan
Druyan reflects on Carl Sagan's values and his role as a popularizer of science in his last book, Billions and billions : thoughts on life and death at the brink of the millennium, published in 1997, and his sc... More
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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