Re: Carl Sagan

[David Dalton]

On Dec 16, 2023, The Starmaker wrote on sci.physics
(in article <657E0B...@ix.netcom.com>):

> Carl Edward Sagan was an American astronomer and science communicator.
> His best known scientific contribution is his research on the possibility of
> extraterrestrial life.
> He assembled the first physical messages sent into space
> which were universal messages that could potentially be understood by any
> extraterrestrial intelligence that might find them.
>
> Astronomy is the study of everything in the universe beyond Earth's
> atmosphere.
>
> That means a space nut.
>
> 'beyond Earth's atmosphere' means he knew he wasn't allowed to study...earth
> science.
>
> There are no other samples to comare it with so why bother learning earth
> science????
>
> There is no organic soil anywhere else in the universe...
>
> You people are not allowed to study...earth science.
>
> any trees on Mars? or Venus?? ...anywhere else???
>
> You people are not allowed to study...earth science.

I did my M.Sc. in the then Department of Geophysics and Astronomy
at The University of British Columbia, and there was some interaction
between the floors and over beer, and a shared reading room. Many
astronomers are involved in research into exoplanets which involves
comparison to the Earth and other solar system planets. And planetology
sort of bridges astronomy and geoscience.

--
David Dalton dal...@nfld.com https://www.nfld.com/~dalton (home page)
https://www.nfld.com/~dalton/dtales.html Salmon on the Thorns (mystic page)
"And if I shed a tear I won’t cage it; I won't fear love;
And if I feel a rage I won’t deny it; I won't fear love" (Sarah McLachlan)