Teacher`s Edition

PASSPORT
to the
SOL AR SYSTEM
HOW TO USE THIS PASSPORT
Before you begin your journey, record your name and
other vital facts on the first page of your passport.
To find each planet station, use the map as your guide.
After visiting each station, get your passport stamped
at a nearby location as proof of your visit to each planet.
If you are unable to get your passport stamped at
one or more locations, you can get it stamped at the
Sciencenter. (Passports downloaded from www.
sciencenter.org do not qualify for free admission.)
For school group reservations and group passport
purchases call the Sciencenter at 607.272.0600.
AUDIO TOUR
Learn more about the Solar System and the planets as
you explore the Sagan Planet Walk! This free tour is
narrated by Bill Nye the Science Guy.
Listen to the tour by phone at: 703.637.6237
Introduction
Download the tour as a podcast from iTunes or:
www.sciencenter.org/saganpw
PACE THE SPACE
SAGAN PLANET WALK
Sciencenter, Ithaca, NY
The Sagan Planet Walk is a model of our Solar System
at one five-billionth (1/5,000,000,000) of the actual size.
Starting with the Sun on the Commons in downtown
Ithaca, this ¾ mile (1200 meter) walking tour leads to
the Sciencenter. Both the size of the planets and the
distance between them are accurately scaled and displayed.
1
The Sciencenter of Ithaca, New York, U.S.A. hereby requests
all whom it may concern to permit the citizen of the Solar
System named herein to pass without delay or hindrance and
in case of need to give all lawful aid and protection.
NAME:
ADDRESS:
COUNTRY:
Identification Page
YOUR EARTH AGE:
TODAY’S EARTH DATE:
PEOPLE TRAVELING WITH YOU:
The text about the Solar System in this passport was written by Ann Druyan.
Portions consist of excerpted passages from: PALE BLUE DOT: Copyright ©1994
by Carl Sagan; COSMOS: ©1980 by Carl Sagan Productions, Inc.; and COMET:
©1985 by Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan. Portions ©1997 by Ann Druyan and the
Estate of Carl Sagan. All rights reserved.
Signature of Bearer
NOT VALID UNTIL SIGNED
2
SAGAN PLANET WALK
PASSPORT to the SOL AR SYSTEM M AP
PASSPORT STAMPING
LOCATIONS
SCIENCENTER
7
PLUTO
PLUTO
13
n St
1 M&T Bank
The Commons
Customer Service Desk
Lew
Aub
2 15 Steps Gallery
171 The Commons
t
St
Asteroids
Tom
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t
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6
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Inside at the Teller Line
116 E Seneca St.
St
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Jupiter and Saturn
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NEPTUNE
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Sun, Mercury, Venus,
Earth and Mars
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Pluto
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7 Sciencenter
601 First St.
St
N Tio
C
as
di
lla
t
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Av
ga S
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If you are unable to get your passport
stamped at one or more locations, you can
get it stamped at the Sciencenter.
AUDIO TOUR
N
C ou
NG
A lba
ny
reen
St
SATURN
St
SATURN
Buf f
Sen
JUPITER
ec a
Download the tour as a podcast from
iTunes or:
www.sciencenter.org/saganpw
4
3
ASTEROIDS
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703.637.6237
t
JUPITER
S A lb
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alo S
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ASTEROIDS
MARS
EARTH
VENUS
Learn more about the Solar System and
the planets as you explore the Sagan
Planet Walk! This free tour is narrated
by Bill Nye the Science Guy.
r t St
MARS
EARTH
VENUS
MERCURY
St a
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PACE THE SPACE
The Sagan Planet Walk is a model of
our Solar System at one five-billionth
(1/5,000,000,000) of the actual size.
Starting with the Sun on the Commons in
downtown Ithaca, this ¾ mile (1200 meter)
walking tour leads to the Sciencenter.
Both the size of the planets and the
distance between them are accurately
scaled and displayed.
3
Traveler beware:
Five-billion-year-old nuclear
fusion reactor in operation!
Think of the Sun’s heat on your upturned face on a
cloudless summer day; think how dangerous it is to
gaze at the Sun directly. From 150 million kilometers
away, we recognize its power. What would we feel on its
seething, self-luminous surface, or immersed in its heart
of nuclear fire? And yet, our Sun is just an ordinary star,
one of 400 billion in the Milky Way Galaxy, which is one
of billions, perhaps hundreds of billions, of galaxies in
the Universe.
Someday, five or six billion years from now, when all
the hydrogen fuel in its interior has been converted into
helium, the Sun will begin to evolve into a Red Giant.
Ruddy and bloated, it will envelop and devour the planets
Mercury and Venus—and probably the Earth as well.
The inner Solar System will then reside within the Sun.
Fun Facts
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the planet, and not a drop ever reaches the surface.
With searing heat, crushing pressures, noxious gases,
and everything suffused in an eerie, reddish glow, Venus
seems less the goddess of love than the incarnation of hell.
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fields of jumbled, softened, irregular rocks—a hostile,
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1L,C4O3M0E T O U R A N ES US U
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US
O M E TO M A I L O
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SU
R S M E T W EO
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E RLSC F R O M T
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N
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G
I
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IG
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60k
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R TM
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H
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k
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12,742k
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MA
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DI
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ATE
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E A RT H ’S D I A M E T E R
IS
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Earth
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D
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RSISA
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I
42km4 TIM ES
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’S
H
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NNHE ’S
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ERR==46,760k
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I
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URANUS DIAMETER
SS DDIA
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47
U
,000km
N
A
AR
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R
U
M A RS’ D I A M E T E R IS
11
W E LCOM E TO TH E
SU
N
ETE
’S D I A M
T H E SU N
The next tourist attraction?
O THE SUN
O
S
M
UR
Although it is sometimes as warm
as an
Ithaca
October,
IS
Y
IAMETER
U RY ’S D
E
5
M
8 M I L Lso coldRCthat
Mars is a chilly place,
someAofLLits
thin
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E
I O N T IM E S S M
IL
carbon dioxide
freezes out
as
E TE R ice at the
O atmosphere2 .6
I A Mdry
ME
RT H ’S D
THAN EA
TER
winter pole.
N
S FR
SU
980km
K
= 4,
DIAMETER
MERCURY
N
M IL L IO N
SU
THE
SU
IL
TO E A RT H
THE
SU
MILLIO
ME
TER
SUN
ERS
UN
T
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ARE
MILLIO
RO
’S
12,742km
AMETER =
EARTH DI
RS
N
Mars
E TE RS FRO M
R
S B IG G E
3 .7 T IM E
R
DIAMETE
E MOON
Fun Facts
THAN TH
N
S FRO
M THE SU
FRO M T H E S
TH E CE NT ERTHE CENTE
R
N
IO
L
2 2O8 M IL
O
M
F O
MER TO TH E ASSY S T E
OEM
ESLUFSCTO
U R S O 12 W
U
S O L A R TE
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H ES Y
LOM
N
228 M
IL
M E T O T HLE I O N
L C O M E T O T H EI LSEU
LCO
WE
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OME T
ET
E LC
K
W
O
W E LCO M E TO M
A
N
IO N
15 0 M IL L
M E TE RS FRO M
DIAME
SM
T E R IS
ALLER
THAN
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Still, this world of wonders has plenty to offer spacefaring
’S D I A
METER
LCO M E TO
tourists. Into
climbing?
How
about
a
trek
M
E
W Emountain
RCURY
VEN
DIAMET
E
U
R
= 4,98
S
up Olympus Mons? At a height
of 25 kilometers
0km
IS
IAMETER
E N U S’ D
0 8 volcano
(15 miles!), 1this
a halfB IG
times
M I L L I O is two Vand
R taller
E
G
ES
N
.0 5 T IM
R
than Mt.I L OEverest.
The great 15,000
kilometer-long
rift
D I A M E TE
ME
VENU
E A RT H ’S
N
S’ D I A
A
H
T
METER
N
valley knownT Eto
as
the
Vallis
Marineris
R S earthlings
FRO M T H E S U
1.0 5 T
IS
= 12,360km
ER
IM
ET
AM
E S B IG
S DI
makes our Grand Canyon seem,
And T H A N
VENUwell … less … grand.
GER
EARTH
’S D I A
when you get
there, don’t forget to visit the Carl Sagan
METER
VENUS
W E LCOM E TO E
DIAMET
AR
Memorial Station, headquarters
for
the
plucky
robotic
ER = 12,
TH
360km
R IS
DIAMETE
rover Sojourner.
15 0
E A RT H ’S
K
E
N
N
8 M IL L IO
TE RS FRO M
U R Y ’S
K
TO V E N US
ME
LCO
MERC
2 . 6 T IM
ES
OM THE
THE
DI
T H ’S D
IAMET
ER
SUN DI
AMETER
= 1,392,
000km
TO M
ERC
WE
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OME
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U N ’S
1 0 9 T IM A M E T E R IS
E S B IG
THAN
GER
EAR
ETER
SUN DIAM
E
YS T
RS FRO M
IAM
F O
RT H ’S D
THAN EA
UR
SOLA
0km
M
R SYS T E
= 1,392,00
The forecast is for cold temperatures, global
sandstorms, and
a chance of humanity landing.
LCOM E
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OLAR
R IS
THE CE
ER
NT
E S B IG G
1 0 9 ETRIM
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IAMETE
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3 . 7 T IM
IS
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GER
THE M
OO
N ’S D
IAMET
ER
EARTH
DIAMET
ER = 12,
742km
Mars
ER
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1.9 T IM E
R
D I A M E TE
M ARS
’S
H
RT
’ D I ABIGGER
ES
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109 TIM
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IS
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76
6,
=
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RT H
E AIM
E
ER
S
ET
AM
S
DI
10
MALLE
9 TIM ES BIG GE
MARS
T H AR
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R
TH
’S D I A
T H A N E A RT H ’S D I ASUN DIAMETER = 1,392,000k
M E T EmR
M E TE R
MARS DI
AMETER
SUN DIAMETER = 1,39
= 6,760
2,000km
km
ES T
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T
IS A BO U
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R
E
C
D
A S T E RO I
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S TNE R OTIM ES
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’S
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RT
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TT
TR
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=
2.6 TIM
ER
ET SM AL LER E S S M
ES
AM
ALLER
CERES DI
THAN
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T H ’S M = 4,980km
M E TE RE A R DIAMETER
OON
CER
MERCURY DIAMETER = ES DIAMETE
4,980km
R = 932
km
T E R IS
S DIAME
J U PI TE R’
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S
O
T ON
MS
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W E E TO TH E A S TENRO
W
OI DURSY
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CO
L A R SYS T E M
EL
ER E A RE
13
Look out! Look out!
TH MI LLI
58
ON 58 MILLIO N
M IL L IO NDSSK
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KI
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LO
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SU
M EO F A ST ER
W ELLO
M
MSEU O J U
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UR SOLAR
rocks ahead! Asteroids are smaller than
7Big
78 M I L
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planets,
but still huge compared to you! IG G E R
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C O M E TI LOO VJEUN
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the Sun’s neighborhood
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ITIM
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VT H
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M1E.T2
E R IS
m
60
T
2,
10 8 MI LLI ON
14
is
particularly
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in
between
the
orbits
of
Mars
N
E A RT H ’S D I A M E TE R
N0k
HA
TIM
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108
E
ER =
S
ET
AM
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5
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7 78
and
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’S D I A
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L O UT O
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J
U
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from the formation of the SolarTSystem.
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little worlds did?9We
it’s TEHR’S D I A M E T E R IS
.5 Tthink
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Rbecause
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I A. 5
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60
IMISE= S120,
15 0 MI LLI ON
With
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of
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N just outside this
M O O N ’S D I A M E T E R
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ER
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R
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N
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TH
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S
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K
22 8 MI LLI ON IL228
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U
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,49 0 M IL OF ASTERIODS
E L C O M E DS
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KI
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N
N
N T H E MSOAT
ER
= 12,742km
OUN ’S D I A M EEARTH
T E R DIAMETER
RN DIA
TER = 1
one of them, remember
toMEbring
20,600
EARTH DIAMETER = 12,7
42km T E R IS km
2 , 870 plenty of oxygen. Asteroids don’t have atmospheres.
ME
A
I
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ION
IL
OOM E T O M A O U R AE L C O M E T O M A R S
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O
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W
LO
R = 142,
600km
ELC
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K
WEL
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ETER = 12,360km
IS
1, 4 3 0
IAMETER
U R N ’S D
M I didn’t
Why
they collide with each other to
planets
SA Tform
L
L
I
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IG
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L
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IM
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ER
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ERS
E E SU
FRO M W
TH
778 MI LLI ON
N
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778
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IL L IO
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ER
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Facts
T IM
R I A M E T E R IS
M AMRS’
U4
E TED
RANU
S ’ RT H ’S D I A
METER
T H A N E A D I A1.9
SM ALLER
ES
TIM
IS
4
M A RS’ D I AT
MIM
E T EERSIS
= 47,000km
B ER
E A RT H ’S D I A M E TE R
AN
T HG
HA
US DIAMETIG
E
R
URNAN
1.9 TIMTES
E
A RAL
SM
T H ’S
LER
DIAME
TER
T H A N EUARRT H ’S D I A
ANUS DI M E TE R MARS DIAMETER = 6,760km
AMETER
= 47,00
0km
MARS DIAMETER = 6,76
0km
E T E R IS
E’ S D I A M
NEPTUN
R
B IG G E
S
T H E L A RG ES T
3 .9 T IM E
I A M E TE R
N E ’S D
RO I D C E R ES IS A BO U T
T ED
A RTAHS’S
A NI AEM
H
T
E
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T3H.9
E LA
T RG
km ALLER
IMES
,600SM
E T B IGAM4
TIM
= 44ES
A S T E RO
ER
C E R ES ISSUN
T HI DA N
E DI
U TGET
E R E A RT H ’S M O O N
PTA BO
E A RNE
T H ’S D
N
A
H
T
IAMET
4 TIM ES SM AL LER
ER
NEPT
T H A N EUN
AERTDI
CERES DIAMETER = 932km
HA’SMEM
TEORO=N
44,600
km
R IS
CERES DIAMETER = 932k
DIAMETE
m
PL U TO ’S
NEPTU
Asteroids
A LL E R
IM E S S M
5 .5 T
R E T E R IS
AM
I A MDEITE
J UHPITE
’S D I A
’S DR’S
M TE H
T EARNISE A RT
5 . 5 T IM
11.2 TIM ES mBIGGER
J U PITE R’S DE
I ASM ESTM
E RAISL DIAMETER = 2,274k
THAN
PLUTLOE RT H A N E A RT H ’S D I A M E TE R
EART
P LU T O
Asteroids come in many
shapes and sizes
15
IM E S
1.0 5 T
’S
E A R TH
TH A N
C O M E T O VE ETNO V E N U S
WEL
US
OM
E LC
W
LO
10 8 MI LLI ON
L IO N
10 8 M IL
The giant planet
DIAME
TE R
60km
R = 12,3
DIAMETE
V E N US’
IAM
VENDUS
E T E R IS
1.0 5 TIM ES BIG GE R
N
KI
B IG
SU
N
ME K
SU HE
T EIRL S F
O MREOT EMR ST HFER O M T
The star that failed.
T H A N E A RT H ’S D I A
M E TE R
TE R IS
DIAME
’S
VENUS DIAMETER
TH
R
E A = 12,360km
GER
E S B IG
3 .7 T IM N ’S D I A M E TE R
OO
E A R T H System condensed out of the interstellar
TH E M gas
C O M E T O EAs
the
T O Solar
AORM
TH A N
WEL
T HE
m
E L Cand dust, Jupiter acquired most of the matter that wasTER = 12,742k
ME
W
TH DIA
E A RT H ’S D IE
AAR
M
LO
N
KI
E T E R IS
Ninto interstellar space and3.7
15 0 MI LLI ON
notMejected
did not fall inward
TIM ES BIG GE R
0 IL L IO
15to
form the Sun. That was a lot of stuff—so much that
ME
SU
UN
H E a planet
Tin
T E R S KF I L O it
resulted
E S
H
M
T
ROM
M E T E RS FRO
W E LC
T H A N T H E M O O N ’S
DIAMETER
IS
more than twice as massive as ’all
M E TE R
RS DIA
EARTH
M A 42k
ETER = 12,7
m
LLER
the other planets of the Solar System put DIAM
together.
ES SM A
1.9 T IM
M A RS’ D I A M E
LO
TE R
MAR
T E R IS
N
22 8 MI LLI ON
undergone
thermonuclear
reactions,1.9
and
Jupiter would
L IO
TIM ES SM AL LER
2 8 M IL
2
have begun to shine
by its own light. Even so, its interior
U
N
KI
ME
’S D I A
R TH
M A R Sthis giant planet been even larger,THsay
O M E T O MHowever,
AN EA
A R SC O M E T O had
0km
EL
R = 6,76
W
twelve
times larger, the matter in its interior would Shave
DIAMETE
ME
S
O M E T OET H E S U
UN
KI
TERS F
N
E S W E L CR O M T Hare high
HM
O
R O M LTtemperatures
ETERS F
T H A N E A RT H ’S D I A
M E TE R
GEST
A RN
enough to generate twice as much
T HEE LSU
’S D A
I A M EUTTE R IS
TH
IS B O
ISS DIAMETER
MAR
IAMETER
= 6,760km R O I D C E R E S
D
’S
N
SU
energy as the planet receives
from
the
Sun.
THE
BIGGER
A S TE 109 TIM ESL L
ER
S S M A’S D I N
T H AEN E A RT HM
4 T IM
OAMETER
’S O
B IG G ER
THE CENTER 1 0 9 TI M ES
HE SUN
T H E A S T E RO I D
E TE R
O M E TO T H E A S T E R
H ’S D I A M
S
E TO
OI OM
E LC
H A N E A RT
O
W
MT
CDS F O
E
L
T
E
THE RE ARE
E
U RE A
T HmE L A RG ES T
000k
S RO L A R S Y S
TH ER
ER = 1,392,
IO N SS
M IL L TE
R IO D
W
T E R MI LLI
ON S
OF AST ERIO DS
M
E A R TH
TH A N
SUN DIAMETER
932km
= 1,392,000km
R=
DIAMETE
CERES
A S T E RO I D C E R ES IS
A BO U T
SUN DIAMET
OF AS
IN STE
EM
O M E T O MSETR
M
R S YO U R S
E LRC S O L A R S Y C U R Y Fun
O L A R SYS T E I N O
WU
4 TIM ES SM AL LER
Facts
’S
M E RC U RY
T H A N E A RT H ’S M O
ON
E T E R IS
D I A MCERE
S DIAMETER = 932km
IS
M E RC U’S
RY’S DMI AE TE
M ERT E R IS
R DIA
J U P IT E
GER
B IGALLER
2.6 TIM
E S SM
T IM ES
E TE R
11T.2
H A N E A RT H’S’SDDI A
I AMM E T E R
S M A LL ER
58 MILLION
M ERCUR E T
2 .6 TI M ES
TO J U PI T E R
O JUP
Y
TE R
COM
’S D I A M E
OME
ITE K
WEL
NT H A N E A RT H
R I L OE L C
U
S
W ME
E
TERS FRO M T H
= 4,980km
U PITE R’S
Y DIAMETJER
N
N
O 8 MI LLI ON
LI77
MERCUR
SU
E
OM THE
U KN
M E TO V
T HU
ME N
R O ME T E R S F R O M T H E S I L O
E LECTO
S
WM
E RS FRO
TO V E N
U
L C O M E ST O S AT16
URN
WE
KI
ON
IL LI
1,4
M
30
MI LLI ON
T H A N E A RT H ’S D I A
M E TE R
R IS
E T EDIAM
JUPI
IAM
TER
ETER = 142,600km
V E N US ’ D
ER
108 MILLION
M ES B IG G
T O S AT U R N 1 .0 5 TI
D I A M E TE R
OM E
T H A N E A RT H ’S D I A
M E TE R
150 MILLION
Think
the Ithaca
winter
is ILlong?
ON
L IO N
M IL0LIMI
,87
LLI ON
2 , 870 M
EA
B IG G ER
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DIAMETER
OM
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Uranus
Uranus
21
N
W
Far out! How far?
N
N
Neptune is so far away, it takes nearly 165
Earth years to make a trip around the Sun. In
July 2011, Neptune completes its first full orbit
since its discovery in 1846.
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E S B IG
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with
R TH
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CO
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E LC
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22
5,9 00 MI LLI ON
W
E LC
OME
URANUS DIAMETER = 47
,000km
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S FRO M T H E
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N
OM
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NE
4,490 MI LLI ON
4 T IM
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TH A N
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km
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= 47,000
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E TO U R A N US
OM
N
WE
TO PLU TO
M IL L IO
N
TH A N
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3.9 TIM ES BIG GE R NEPTUNE
T H A N E A RT H ’S D I A
M E TE R
NEPTUNE DIAMETER =
44,600km
PLU TO ’S D I A M E T E R
IS
5.5 TIM ES SM AL LER
Neptune
600km
R = 44,
DIAMETE
ME
’S D I A
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LLER
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24
25
Our Sun is the
closest star to Earth
The next closest star to Earth is Alpha Centauri.
On this 1 to 5-billion scale model of the Solar System,
if the Sun is on the Ithaca Commons and Pluto is 1,200
meters away at the Sciencenter, where do you think the
nearest star, Alpha Centauri, should be located?
Boston? No. Guess again.
Los Angeles? No. Not far enough away.
The staggering answer is that even on this radically
reduced scale, the next closest star station would be
somewhere in the state of Hawaii!
Sagan Planet Walk
model of our Solar System
ITHACA, NY
Alpha Centauri
station would be in
HAWAII
Fun Facts
Alpha Centauri
KI
T
N E P T U N E’S D I A M E
O NEPTUNE
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OM E TO E P T U N E OM E T
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W
IL L IO
4,490 MI LLI ON
4, 49 0 M
LO
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URANUS DIAM
N
OM
O U R SU N IS
N TA U R I
A L PH A C E N TAU R A L PH A C E
I IS
IN U TE S
8. 3 LI G H T M
IS
A RS
4. 3 LIG HT YE AR
4.S3 LI G H T YE
H
RT
A
E
OM
FR
AW AY
AW AY FRO M E A
RT H
,000,000
4.3 LIGHT YEARS
T YEARS = 40
LI0GHmil
= 40,000
4.3,00
lion km
26
million km
E A RT H
AW AY FR OM
O U R SU N IS
million km
NUTES = 150
8.3 LIGHT MI
8.3 LIG HT MI NU
TE S
AW AY FRO M E A
RT H
8.3 LIGHT MINUTE
S = 150 million km
27
e
un
pt
Ne
us
an
Ur
rn
Sa
tu
te
pi
Ju
s
ar
M
rth
Ea
Ve
n
us
r
ry
cu
er
M
to
Pl u
DWARF PL ANETS
Ce
A s r es
te
ro
id
NASA/International Astronomical Union
Solar System
PL ANETS
This illustration accurately shows the relative sizes of
the planets in our Solar System. However, the distance
between the Sun and each of the planets is not to scale.
28
29
Acknowledgments
Station Sponsors
This exhibition was developed by the Sciencenter in
memory of Carl Sagan for the citizens of the Earth.
Mercury��Clarity Connect, Inc.
Sun��Ann Druyan
Venus��The CBORD Group, Inc.
Special Thanks to:
Ann Druyan and the Estate of Carl Sagan
Charles Trautmann, Concept and Project Director
Erin Caruth, Artist/Designer
Emily Maletz Graphic Design, Passport Design
Robert Orrange, Project Manager
Yervant Terzian, Cornell University, Technical Advisor
Jim Bell, Cornell University, Technical Advisor
Jim Holahan, Metalsmith
New York State
City of Ithaca
Acknowledgments
Fabrication
Planet models: William Bassett, Skip Davis, Advanced
Design and Fabrication Facility, Cornell University
Planet stations: Superior Precast, Cortland Granite
Sun and Pluto stations: Marchell Monuments
Asteroids Station: AccuFab, Inc.
Planet station installation: City of Ithaca Department
of Public Works, Eric Poysa, and Andy Hillman, with
assistance from many others
Signage printing: Enameltec and Fossil Industries
30
Earth��Goodrich Corporation – Ithaco Space
Systems, Inc. and its Employees
Mars ��Cornell University Astronomy Department
and NASA/New York Space Grant Consortium
Asteroids��NASA/New York Space Grant Consortium;
Tompkins County Tourism Board; AccuFab,
Inc.; Meteorite donated by Michael I. Casper,
Meteorites Inc.
Jupiter��Friends and Family of Bob Engel
Saturn��The Planetary Society
Uranus��Tompkins County Tourism Board and
The Gannett Foundation, Inc.
Neptune��M&T Bank and the Children of Tompkins
County
Pluto��William and Jane Bassett
Images
Planet and Solar System images courtesy of NASA
Audio Tour
Narration: Bill Nye
Post Production: Hester Blom and Dawid Vermaak
Sponsored by the Tompkins County Tourism Board
31
© Tony Korody/Sygma/Corbis
Dedication
The Sciencenter dedicates this exhibition to the memory of
Carl Sagan
1934-1996
Carl Sagan
Astronomer • Teacher • Author • Activist
Space Science and Exobiology Pioneer
As a child of seven, Carl Sagan asked the question: “What
are the stars?” To his good fortune and ours, his parents took
him straight to the nearest library. That was the first step in
a lifelong journey that opened the way for him and countless
others to a deeper understanding of the universe.
This model of the Solar System is named in honor of the late
Carl Sagan—a great scientist, an inspirational advocate of
science, a valued advisor and supporter of the Sciencenter,
and a member of the Ithaca community for nearly thirty
years. The Sagan Planet Walk aspires to excite future
generations about the romance of the scientific enterprise
and to convey something of the preciousness and fragility of
our tiny world in the context of the vastness of the Cosmos.
Carl Sagan was 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 briefed the Apollo
astronauts before their flights to the Moon and was an
experimenter on the Mariner, Viking, Voyager, and Galileo
expeditions to the planets. He helped solve the mysteries
of the high temperature of Venus (caused by a massive
greenhouse effect), the seasonal changes on Mars (caused by
windblown dust), and the reddish haze of Titan (caused by
complex organic molecules).
A Pulitzer Prize winner, Dr. Sagan was the author of many
best-selling books including Cosmos and Contact. More than
500 million people in 60 countries have seen the Emmy and
Peabody award-winning thirteen-part PBS television series
Cosmos. He received numerous awards for his scientific
achievements, such as the Public Welfare Medal, the highest
award of the National Academy of Sciences. In a posthumous
award to Dr. Sagan, the National Science Foundation
declared that “his research transformed planetary science …
his gifts to mankind were infinite.”
32
33
601 First Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
607.272.0600
www.sciencenter.org
Passport sponsored by NASA/New York Space Grant Consortium

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