iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Carl Sagan Institute

Dr. Jake Turner 📡🧲🪐 @astrojaket.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Tonight, Diana (my PhD student) & I are observing on the Allen Telescope Array! 🔭 We are searching for signs of technology (technosignatures) from a transiting Earth-like planet in the habitable zone 👽📡 Even cooler, the exoplanet has seen Earth transit in the past 👀 @carlsaganinstitute.bsky.social

The radio dishes of the Allen Telescope Array

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Carl Sagan Institute @carlsaganinstitute.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

Dr. Jake Turner (@astrojaket.bsky.social ), CSI fellow, is involved with many future proposed Lunar radio telescopes, which will study exoplanets in the radio 📡 Radio observations are one of the main ways to study a planet's magnetic field, which may impact its habitability 🌍 🧲 Learn more 👇

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Carl Sagan Institute @carlsaganinstitute.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

"That's home. That's us." Carl Sagan As we gaze at the beauty of our own Earth, we can't help but wonder if life exists out there in the cosmos.

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Carl Sagan Institute @carlsaganinstitute.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

New places to search for life in a CSI paper today! Most of the 6000 discovered exoplanets are deadly. Bohl et al. identify 45 of them as potentially Earth-like worlds. More at Cornell A&S: news.cornell.edu/stories/2026... Explanation, interactive images: www.gillislowry.com/rocky-hz-cat... 🔭

An artist’s impression of a planetary system around a slightly hotter star than our Sun. In prior research, Carl Sagan Institute scientists have theorized that organisms could evolve biofluorescence to protect themselves from a more intense star.

An artist's impression of a theoretical planet orbiting a redder star, which could cause microbes and plants on the planet's surface to reflect very different colors from Earth’s green forests.

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Carl Sagan Institute @carlsaganinstitute.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

Happy Pale Blue Dot Day and Valentine’s Day! 💙 We’re sending our love to Alpha CubeSat for completing 1000 orbits and beaming down its own pale blue images of Earth! 🔭

A tiny image of the Pacific Ocean by Alpha CubeSat!

A tiny image of Central America (El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua?) by Alpha CubeSat!

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Carl Sagan Institute @carlsaganinstitute.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

A new research paper including CSI fellow Jake Turner investigates magnetic interactions between stars and their planets—using distant auroras to detect and survey other worlds! 🔭 Read more: as.cornell.edu/news/novel-w... Image credit: Danielle Futselaar/Artsource.nl

Detecting exoplanets through radio bursts: planet-star interactions unveiled in new technique!

(An attempt at a retro vibe on top of cool artwork of a star's magnetic field arcing through its planet).

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Carl Sagan Institute @carlsaganinstitute.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

When Sagan & Salpeter imagined an ecosystem in Jupiter’s clouds, little was known about the microbes afloat in our own. Clouds are normally a hindrance in the search for life—they block views of the surface. But if organisms exist in clouds, might signs of life on overcast planets be detectable?

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Reposted by Carl Sagan Institute

Cornell Astronomical Society @ Fuertes Observatory @cornellastrosociety.org · 13/12/2025

Snowman at the Fuertes Observatory. ☃️

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Carl Sagan Institute @carlsaganinstitute.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

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! 🔭

Artistic rendition of Alpha CubeSat deploying its light sail!

The light sail's estimated location above the coast of Africa on December 4th, 2025!

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Carl Sagan Institute @carlsaganinstitute.bsky.social · 09/11/2025

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…

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Carl Sagan Institute @carlsaganinstitute.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

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? 🔭

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Carl Sagan Institute @carlsaganinstitute.bsky.social · 21/09/2025

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...

600 exoplanets. The strange worlds we've found so far—and what we still don't know.

***Artist's depiction by Pablo Carlo Budassi (Celestialobjects)

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Carl Sagan Institute @carlsaganinstitute.bsky.social · 14/09/2025

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!

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Carl Sagan Institute @carlsaganinstitute.bsky.social · 13/09/2025

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

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Carl Sagan Institute @carlsaganinstitute.bsky.social · 13/09/2025

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! 🔭

TRAPPIST-1 e: bare rock or cloudy world? The data on the graph could conceivably fit an "airless" scenario or an "Earth-like atmosphere" scenario.

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Carl Sagan Institute @carlsaganinstitute.bsky.social · 07/09/2025

🔭 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!

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Carl Sagan Institute @carlsaganinstitute.bsky.social · 15/08/2025

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.

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Carl Sagan Institute @carlsaganinstitute.bsky.social · 15/08/2025

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.

Sagan et al. (1993): A Search for Life on Earth from the Galileo spacecraft

Knowing our own signs of life on Earth tells us how to search for aliens!

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Carl Sagan Institute @carlsaganinstitute.bsky.social · 14/08/2025

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!

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Reposted by Carl Sagan Institute

Cornell Astronomical Society @ Fuertes Observatory @cornellastrosociety.org · 08/07/2025

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.

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Reposted by Carl Sagan Institute

Cornell Astronomical Society @ Fuertes Observatory @cornellastrosociety.org · 26/06/2025

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.

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Reposted by Carl Sagan Institute

Cornell Astronomical Society @ Fuertes Observatory @cornellastrosociety.org · 23/06/2025

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.

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Carl Sagan Institute @carlsaganinstitute.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

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 🔭

0.05% of the 10 billion galaxies Rubin will discover in the next decade. Every corner of the sky holds a star or galaxy, some of which were simply too far away, too dim, to be seen before now. Rubin bridges the vastness.

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Carl Sagan Institute @carlsaganinstitute.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

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!

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Carl Sagan Institute @carlsaganinstitute.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

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

Artist depiction of an exoplanet (Celestialobjects/Pablo Carlos Budassi) with the text "LIFE ON AN OCEAN WORLD? Do these 'hints of life' hold water?"

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Carl Sagan Institute @carlsaganinstitute.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

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. 🔭

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Carl Sagan Institute @carlsaganinstitute.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

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 🔭

CAS Vice President Andrew Lewis with the 102-year-old telescope

A crowded view from the observation deck

One of the observatory's modern reflector telescopes pointed at the moon

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Carl Sagan Institute @carlsaganinstitute.bsky.social · 13/03/2025

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!

Possible T-shirt: "I saw the BLOOD WORM MOON, March 14th, 2025," with a drawing of a worm coming out of the moon as if it were an apple.

Red moon from the 2022 lunar eclipse, taken by Christopher Lowry

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Carl Sagan Institute @carlsaganinstitute.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

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! 🔭

Cornell's Spacecraft Imaging Facility virtual reality Mars exhibit

Cornell Astronomical Society members with solar telescope

Cornell Mars Rover members with an interactive rover

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Carl Sagan Institute @carlsaganinstitute.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

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...

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Reposted by Carl Sagan Institute

Cornell Astronomical Society @ Fuertes Observatory @cornellastrosociety.org · 28/02/2025

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.

cornellastrosociety.org

Lecture Series | The Cornell Astronomical Society

Past and upcoming lectures, hosted by the Cornell Astronomical Society.

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Carl Sagan Institute @carlsaganinstitute.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

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

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Carl Sagan Institute @carlsaganinstitute.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

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...

youtube.com

Pale Blue Dot Day! Ann Druyan on Life with Carl Sagan

YouTube video by Carl Sagan Institute

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Reposted by Carl Sagan Institute

The Planetary Society @planetarysociety.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

Sign our letter to urge Congress, President Donald Trump, and key officials to reverse this arbitrary decision. These letters have proven effective, helping us to save countless space missions, now lets save jobs. It takes less than 30 seconds to sign. Please share! www.planetary.org/advocacy-act...

planetary.org

Advocacy Action Center

The Planetary Society is organizing a new space constituency that is educated, empowered, and loud.

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Carl Sagan Institute @carlsaganinstitute.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

If you’re an American, it takes just one minute to contact your representatives about the NASA layoffs, thanks to the Planetary Society: www.planetary.org/advocacy-act... 🔭

planetary.org

Advocacy Action Center

The Planetary Society is organizing a new space constituency that is educated, empowered, and loud.

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Carl Sagan Institute @carlsaganinstitute.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

We’ve also been slowly uploading individual talks from Carl Sagan’s 90th birthday, so you can enjoy them one at a time. Learn the latest in exoplanet science, and hear from the wonderful Ann Druyan on how Carl Sagan was a citizen of Earth. youtube.com/playlist?lis... 🔭

youtube.com

Carl Sagan's 90th Birthday Celebration - YouTube

Watch the full recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/dsfTPwPBhbA?si=j9pMZyaMqwHMFaZo

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Carl Sagan Institute @carlsaganinstitute.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

In November, we celebrated Carl Sagan’s 90th birthday with talks from researchers and professors in the Carl Sagan Institute on communicating science, searching for life on icy moons, laser sailing to the stars, sniffing atmospheres of distant worlds, and more! 🎬 www.youtube.com/live/dsfTPwP...

youtube.com

Carl Sagan's 90th Birthday: An Arts Unplugged Celebration 🌌 🪐

YouTube video by eCornell

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Carl Sagan Institute @carlsaganinstitute.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

It's been 35 years since the Pale Blue Dot image was taken at the urging of Carl Sagan, whose speech shook so many of our worldviews. To celebrate, we compiled memories of Sagan from his collaborators and partners. Read and listen to their stories: carlsaganinstitute.cornell.edu/news/memorie... 🔭

carlsaganinstitute.cornell.edu

Memories of Carl Sagan on the 35th Anniversary of the Pale Blue Dot

In November, we celebrated 90 years since Carl Sagan was born. On Valentine’s Day today, we celebrate 35 years since the birth of—thanks to Prof. Sagan’s persuasion—one of the greatest photographs of ...

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Carl Sagan Institute @carlsaganinstitute.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

The Carl Sagan Institute is now on Bluesky! 🎉🎉🎉

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