Carl Sagan Institute
@carlsaganinstitute.bsky.social
Interdisciplinary research team at Cornell University, following Carl Sagan's legacy by building the tools to find life in the Universe.
https://carlsaganinstitute.cornell.edu/
https://carlsaganinstitute.cornell.edu/
CONGRATULATIONS to CSI fellow Dr. Josh Umansky-Castro and the whole Alpha CubeSat team: they've successfully deployed the first-ever light sail to “free fly” in space (disconnect from its spacecraft)!
Read the story of its first few days in space below!
🔭
Read the story of its first few days in space below!
🔭
December 5, 2025 at 6:55 PM
CONGRATULATIONS to CSI fellow Dr. Josh Umansky-Castro and the whole Alpha CubeSat team: they've successfully deployed the first-ever light sail to “free fly” in space (disconnect from its spacecraft)!
Read the story of its first few days in space below!
🔭
Read the story of its first few days in space below!
🔭
Happy 91st birthday, Carl Sagan.
🌌🎂
Stay tuned for posts this week that honor both his research legacy and his quest to make a more scientifically literate world…
🌌🎂
Stay tuned for posts this week that honor both his research legacy and his quest to make a more scientifically literate world…
November 9, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Happy 91st birthday, Carl Sagan.
🌌🎂
Stay tuned for posts this week that honor both his research legacy and his quest to make a more scientifically literate world…
🌌🎂
Stay tuned for posts this week that honor both his research legacy and his quest to make a more scientifically literate world…
Happy Halloween! ✨ 👻 🎃 Jack-o’-lanterns aren’t the only signs of life that glow in the dark. Some organisms on Earth do, too. Would a distant planet full of glow-in-the-dark aliens be detectable to our telescopes? 🔭
October 31, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Happy Halloween! ✨ 👻 🎃 Jack-o’-lanterns aren’t the only signs of life that glow in the dark. Some organisms on Earth do, too. Would a distant planet full of glow-in-the-dark aliens be detectable to our telescopes? 🔭
6000 exoplanets. 🔭
We’ve found worlds orbiting all sorts of stars, from tiny, slow-burning reds to fast-living blue-whites to middle-of-the-road, prime-of-their-life yellows like our own...
We’ve found worlds orbiting all sorts of stars, from tiny, slow-burning reds to fast-living blue-whites to middle-of-the-road, prime-of-their-life yellows like our own...
September 21, 2025 at 6:43 PM
6000 exoplanets. 🔭
We’ve found worlds orbiting all sorts of stars, from tiny, slow-burning reds to fast-living blue-whites to middle-of-the-road, prime-of-their-life yellows like our own...
We’ve found worlds orbiting all sorts of stars, from tiny, slow-burning reds to fast-living blue-whites to middle-of-the-road, prime-of-their-life yellows like our own...
Just over five hours until Cornell's Alpha CubeSat launches on its way to the International Space Station! Learn more about the satellite, its lightsail, and its holograms at alphacubesat.cornell.edu, and tune into the livestream of the rocket launch there!
September 14, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Just over five hours until Cornell's Alpha CubeSat launches on its way to the International Space Station! Learn more about the satellite, its lightsail, and its holograms at alphacubesat.cornell.edu, and tune into the livestream of the rocket launch there!
After 9 years and over 100 students, Cornell's Alpha CubeSat mission is launching to space TOMORROW! This small cube-shaped satellite will test the deployment of the first-ever free-flying light sail in low Earth orbit, a stepping stone towards laser sailing to the stars. 🔭
alphacubesat.cornell.edu
alphacubesat.cornell.edu
September 13, 2025 at 7:09 PM
After 9 years and over 100 students, Cornell's Alpha CubeSat mission is launching to space TOMORROW! This small cube-shaped satellite will test the deployment of the first-ever free-flying light sail in low Earth orbit, a stepping stone towards laser sailing to the stars. 🔭
alphacubesat.cornell.edu
alphacubesat.cornell.edu
What do you see in the light from planet TRAPPIST-1 e?
Signs of alien life? Not yet...
Take a look for yourself at real data in the James Webb Space Telescope graph, and read more about it below! 🔭
Signs of alien life? Not yet...
Take a look for yourself at real data in the James Webb Space Telescope graph, and read more about it below! 🔭
September 13, 2025 at 12:04 AM
What do you see in the light from planet TRAPPIST-1 e?
Signs of alien life? Not yet...
Take a look for yourself at real data in the James Webb Space Telescope graph, and read more about it below! 🔭
Signs of alien life? Not yet...
Take a look for yourself at real data in the James Webb Space Telescope graph, and read more about it below! 🔭
🔭 CSI Research spotlight! Are dinosaurs easier to detect from space than humans?
Let's examine how Earth's reflected light over time can aid in the search for life!
Let's examine how Earth's reflected light over time can aid in the search for life!
September 7, 2025 at 8:12 PM
🔭 CSI Research spotlight! Are dinosaurs easier to detect from space than humans?
Let's examine how Earth's reflected light over time can aid in the search for life!
Let's examine how Earth's reflected light over time can aid in the search for life!
CONGRATULATIONS to Carl Sagan Institute Director, Prof. Lisa Kaltenegger, on receiving the 2025 Carl Sagan Medal of Excellence in Public Communication of Planetary Science!
This distinguished prize is awarded by the Division for Planetary Sciences (DPS) of the American Astronomical Society.
This distinguished prize is awarded by the Division for Planetary Sciences (DPS) of the American Astronomical Society.
August 15, 2025 at 4:32 PM
CONGRATULATIONS to Carl Sagan Institute Director, Prof. Lisa Kaltenegger, on receiving the 2025 Carl Sagan Medal of Excellence in Public Communication of Planetary Science!
This distinguished prize is awarded by the Division for Planetary Sciences (DPS) of the American Astronomical Society.
This distinguished prize is awarded by the Division for Planetary Sciences (DPS) of the American Astronomical Society.
How is the Carl Sagan Institute continuing Carl Sagan’s research legacy? Here’s one of the biggest ways: measuring the colors of life!
Many Carl Sagan Institute researchers work with “spectra”—light we observe from other worlds, which we can split into a full spectrum of colors.
Many Carl Sagan Institute researchers work with “spectra”—light we observe from other worlds, which we can split into a full spectrum of colors.
August 15, 2025 at 3:08 PM
How is the Carl Sagan Institute continuing Carl Sagan’s research legacy? Here’s one of the biggest ways: measuring the colors of life!
Many Carl Sagan Institute researchers work with “spectra”—light we observe from other worlds, which we can split into a full spectrum of colors.
Many Carl Sagan Institute researchers work with “spectra”—light we observe from other worlds, which we can split into a full spectrum of colors.
The Carl Sagan Institute is turning 10! To celebrate over the next few months, we'll post about Carl Sagan's scientific papers, the search for alien life from both early-career and later-career CSI researchers, the wacky planets we've found along the way, and how to protect our own.
🔭 Stay tuned!
🔭 Stay tuned!
August 14, 2025 at 9:40 PM
The Carl Sagan Institute is turning 10! To celebrate over the next few months, we'll post about Carl Sagan's scientific papers, the search for alien life from both early-career and later-career CSI researchers, the wacky planets we've found along the way, and how to protect our own.
🔭 Stay tuned!
🔭 Stay tuned!
Reposted by Carl Sagan Institute
Here is M16, the Eagle Nebula! The photo was produced by three CAS members on June 25th, stacked from 184 x 30-second frames. 🔭
The exposures were taken using the 102-year-old f/15 Irving P. Church 12" Refractor at the Fuertes Observatory, stacked in Siril and post-processed in Photoshop.
The exposures were taken using the 102-year-old f/15 Irving P. Church 12" Refractor at the Fuertes Observatory, stacked in Siril and post-processed in Photoshop.
July 8, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Here is M16, the Eagle Nebula! The photo was produced by three CAS members on June 25th, stacked from 184 x 30-second frames. 🔭
The exposures were taken using the 102-year-old f/15 Irving P. Church 12" Refractor at the Fuertes Observatory, stacked in Siril and post-processed in Photoshop.
The exposures were taken using the 102-year-old f/15 Irving P. Church 12" Refractor at the Fuertes Observatory, stacked in Siril and post-processed in Photoshop.
Reposted by Carl Sagan Institute
Here is Messier 17, the Omega or Swan Nebula, photographed by members of the Cornell Astronomical Society this Tuesday evening (6/24/25)! The images were taken through the 12" f/15 Irving P. Church Refractor at the Fuertes Observatory.
This is 124 x 30-second frames, stacked in Siril.
This is 124 x 30-second frames, stacked in Siril.
June 26, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Here is Messier 17, the Omega or Swan Nebula, photographed by members of the Cornell Astronomical Society this Tuesday evening (6/24/25)! The images were taken through the 12" f/15 Irving P. Church Refractor at the Fuertes Observatory.
This is 124 x 30-second frames, stacked in Siril.
This is 124 x 30-second frames, stacked in Siril.
Reposted by Carl Sagan Institute
And after a finally clear evening (with no camera issues) of observing, here is the Cornell Astronomical Society's latest photo of M51, the Whirlpool Galaxy!
This is 11 3-minute exposures, stacked, taken through the Irving P. Church 12-inch refractor at the Cornell University Fuertes Observatory.
This is 11 3-minute exposures, stacked, taken through the Irving P. Church 12-inch refractor at the Cornell University Fuertes Observatory.
June 23, 2025 at 4:42 AM
And after a finally clear evening (with no camera issues) of observing, here is the Cornell Astronomical Society's latest photo of M51, the Whirlpool Galaxy!
This is 11 3-minute exposures, stacked, taken through the Irving P. Church 12-inch refractor at the Cornell University Fuertes Observatory.
This is 11 3-minute exposures, stacked, taken through the Irving P. Church 12-inch refractor at the Cornell University Fuertes Observatory.
Have you seen the Rubin Observatory's first images?
Rubin has the largest digital camera in the world, and it's ready to revolutionize astronomy! Over the next decade, it will discover 2000x MORE galaxies than the 10 million shown below.
Let's explore how its images compare to other telescopes 🔭
Rubin has the largest digital camera in the world, and it's ready to revolutionize astronomy! Over the next decade, it will discover 2000x MORE galaxies than the 10 million shown below.
Let's explore how its images compare to other telescopes 🔭
June 25, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Have you seen the Rubin Observatory's first images?
Rubin has the largest digital camera in the world, and it's ready to revolutionize astronomy! Over the next decade, it will discover 2000x MORE galaxies than the 10 million shown below.
Let's explore how its images compare to other telescopes 🔭
Rubin has the largest digital camera in the world, and it's ready to revolutionize astronomy! Over the next decade, it will discover 2000x MORE galaxies than the 10 million shown below.
Let's explore how its images compare to other telescopes 🔭
Thank you to former CSI researcher Dr. Ryan MacDonald @distantworlds.space for the insightful presentation at CSI's coffee hour last week!
Dr. MacDonald's team has re-analyzed earlier data, finding no evidence for life on K2-18 b: arxiv.org/abs/2501.18477
Read more below!
Dr. MacDonald's team has re-analyzed earlier data, finding no evidence for life on K2-18 b: arxiv.org/abs/2501.18477
Read more below!
May 15, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Thank you to former CSI researcher Dr. Ryan MacDonald @distantworlds.space for the insightful presentation at CSI's coffee hour last week!
Dr. MacDonald's team has re-analyzed earlier data, finding no evidence for life on K2-18 b: arxiv.org/abs/2501.18477
Read more below!
Dr. MacDonald's team has re-analyzed earlier data, finding no evidence for life on K2-18 b: arxiv.org/abs/2501.18477
Read more below!
Has JWST found life on another world? 🔭
An analysis of exoplanet K2-18 b points to the existence of dimethyl sulfide, a molecule produced by photosynthesizing plankton on Earth—but proving that this sign is real, and that life is the only explanation, is a difficult task.
arxiv.org/abs/2504.12267
An analysis of exoplanet K2-18 b points to the existence of dimethyl sulfide, a molecule produced by photosynthesizing plankton on Earth—but proving that this sign is real, and that life is the only explanation, is a difficult task.
arxiv.org/abs/2504.12267
April 20, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Has JWST found life on another world? 🔭
An analysis of exoplanet K2-18 b points to the existence of dimethyl sulfide, a molecule produced by photosynthesizing plankton on Earth—but proving that this sign is real, and that life is the only explanation, is a difficult task.
arxiv.org/abs/2504.12267
An analysis of exoplanet K2-18 b points to the existence of dimethyl sulfide, a molecule produced by photosynthesizing plankton on Earth—but proving that this sign is real, and that life is the only explanation, is a difficult task.
arxiv.org/abs/2504.12267
How many "habitable zone" exoplanets have you heard of? (Besides Earth! 🌍)
A recently-submitted CSI paper puts new "habitable zone" planets on the map, which may be the right temperature for liquid water on their surfaces. Signs of life might also be chemically detectable in their atmospheres.
🔭
A recently-submitted CSI paper puts new "habitable zone" planets on the map, which may be the right temperature for liquid water on their surfaces. Signs of life might also be chemically detectable in their atmospheres.
🔭
March 25, 2025 at 8:16 PM
How many "habitable zone" exoplanets have you heard of? (Besides Earth! 🌍)
A recently-submitted CSI paper puts new "habitable zone" planets on the map, which may be the right temperature for liquid water on their surfaces. Signs of life might also be chemically detectable in their atmospheres.
🔭
A recently-submitted CSI paper puts new "habitable zone" planets on the map, which may be the right temperature for liquid water on their surfaces. Signs of life might also be chemically detectable in their atmospheres.
🔭
Sights from the total lunar eclipse in Ithaca, NY this morning, hosted by the Cornell Astronomical Society (CAS) at Fuertes Observatory!
www.ithacajournal.com/story/news/2...
Image 2: CAS Vice President Andrew Lewis with the 102-year-old telescope
🔭
www.ithacajournal.com/story/news/2...
Image 2: CAS Vice President Andrew Lewis with the 102-year-old telescope
🔭
March 14, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Sights from the total lunar eclipse in Ithaca, NY this morning, hosted by the Cornell Astronomical Society (CAS) at Fuertes Observatory!
www.ithacajournal.com/story/news/2...
Image 2: CAS Vice President Andrew Lewis with the 102-year-old telescope
🔭
www.ithacajournal.com/story/news/2...
Image 2: CAS Vice President Andrew Lewis with the 102-year-old telescope
🔭
In the wee hours of the morning tomorrow, the Americas will experience a "Blood Worm Moon!"
"Worm" just refers to a full Moon in March. This particular full moon is also a lunar eclipse, where the Moon passes into Earth's shadow. Light bending through our atmosphere causes a blood-red color!
"Worm" just refers to a full Moon in March. This particular full moon is also a lunar eclipse, where the Moon passes into Earth's shadow. Light bending through our atmosphere causes a blood-red color!
March 13, 2025 at 7:56 PM
In the wee hours of the morning tomorrow, the Americas will experience a "Blood Worm Moon!"
"Worm" just refers to a full Moon in March. This particular full moon is also a lunar eclipse, where the Moon passes into Earth's shadow. Light bending through our atmosphere causes a blood-red color!
"Worm" just refers to a full Moon in March. This particular full moon is also a lunar eclipse, where the Moon passes into Earth's shadow. Light bending through our atmosphere causes a blood-red color!
Scenes from the interactive exhibit before Sunday's wonderful Cornell Symphony Orchestra concert, featuring music inspired by the TRAPPIST-1 system of (potentially Earth-like) planets! Stay tuned for the full recording of Cheryl Engelhardt's piece!
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March 5, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Scenes from the interactive exhibit before Sunday's wonderful Cornell Symphony Orchestra concert, featuring music inspired by the TRAPPIST-1 system of (potentially Earth-like) planets! Stay tuned for the full recording of Cheryl Engelhardt's piece!
🔭
🔭
A great CSI coffee hour conversation on Friday with composer Cheryl Engelhardt and Cornell Orchestras Director Gabriela Gómez Estévez!
TODAY at 2 EST, tune into the Cornell Symphony Orchestra's cosmic concert! 🔭
Livestream: vod.video.cornell.edu/media/mediai...
TODAY at 2 EST, tune into the Cornell Symphony Orchestra's cosmic concert! 🔭
Livestream: vod.video.cornell.edu/media/mediai...
March 2, 2025 at 4:23 PM
A great CSI coffee hour conversation on Friday with composer Cheryl Engelhardt and Cornell Orchestras Director Gabriela Gómez Estévez!
TODAY at 2 EST, tune into the Cornell Symphony Orchestra's cosmic concert! 🔭
Livestream: vod.video.cornell.edu/media/mediai...
TODAY at 2 EST, tune into the Cornell Symphony Orchestra's cosmic concert! 🔭
Livestream: vod.video.cornell.edu/media/mediai...
Reposted by Carl Sagan Institute
Please join us tonight at 7 PM for a lecture by Ka'iulani Murphy, Professor at Honolulu Community College, on traditional celestial navigation!
The lecture will be in Appel Commons Room 303 on Cornell's north campus, or on Zoom as linked on our website at www.cornellastrosociety.org/lecture-series.
The lecture will be in Appel Commons Room 303 on Cornell's north campus, or on Zoom as linked on our website at www.cornellastrosociety.org/lecture-series.
Lecture Series | The Cornell Astronomical Society
Past and upcoming lectures, hosted by the Cornell Astronomical Society.
www.cornellastrosociety.org
February 28, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Please join us tonight at 7 PM for a lecture by Ka'iulani Murphy, Professor at Honolulu Community College, on traditional celestial navigation!
The lecture will be in Appel Commons Room 303 on Cornell's north campus, or on Zoom as linked on our website at www.cornellastrosociety.org/lecture-series.
The lecture will be in Appel Commons Room 303 on Cornell's north campus, or on Zoom as linked on our website at www.cornellastrosociety.org/lecture-series.
CSI is collaborating with Cornell Orchestras for a space-themed weekend!
In-person coffee hour tomorrow, and an astronomical orchestra concert on Sunday in-person or online!
Concert livestream: tinyurl.com/2tp5ry35
More: carlsaganinstitute.cornell.edu/news/concert-celebrates-wonders-space-march-2
In-person coffee hour tomorrow, and an astronomical orchestra concert on Sunday in-person or online!
Concert livestream: tinyurl.com/2tp5ry35
More: carlsaganinstitute.cornell.edu/news/concert-celebrates-wonders-space-march-2
February 27, 2025 at 5:19 PM
CSI is collaborating with Cornell Orchestras for a space-themed weekend!
In-person coffee hour tomorrow, and an astronomical orchestra concert on Sunday in-person or online!
Concert livestream: tinyurl.com/2tp5ry35
More: carlsaganinstitute.cornell.edu/news/concert-celebrates-wonders-space-march-2
In-person coffee hour tomorrow, and an astronomical orchestra concert on Sunday in-person or online!
Concert livestream: tinyurl.com/2tp5ry35
More: carlsaganinstitute.cornell.edu/news/concert-celebrates-wonders-space-march-2
In case you missed it, we recently uploaded memories of Carl Sagan from his colleagues and collaborators.
His commitment to science and his empathy for humanity is a model for each of us to emulate, now more than ever.
Part 1: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jrqe...
Part 2: www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPo2...
His commitment to science and his empathy for humanity is a model for each of us to emulate, now more than ever.
Part 1: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jrqe...
Part 2: www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPo2...
Pale Blue Dot Day! Ann Druyan on Life with Carl Sagan
YouTube video by Carl Sagan Institute
www.youtube.com
February 25, 2025 at 8:20 PM
In case you missed it, we recently uploaded memories of Carl Sagan from his colleagues and collaborators.
His commitment to science and his empathy for humanity is a model for each of us to emulate, now more than ever.
Part 1: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jrqe...
Part 2: www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPo2...
His commitment to science and his empathy for humanity is a model for each of us to emulate, now more than ever.
Part 1: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jrqe...
Part 2: www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPo2...