Alan Stern Quotes

I'm the one who originally coined the term 'dwarf planet,' back in the nineteen-nineties.

Of course Pluto is a planet: It's massive enough to have its shape controlled by gravity rather than material strength, which is the hallmark of planethood.

'And for my part, Gentlemen,' said I, 'that I may put in for a share, and guess with the rest; not to amuse myself with those curious Notions wherewith you tickle and spur on slow-paced Time; I believe, that the Moon is a World like ours, to which this of ours serves likewise for a Moon.'

I put up my thumb and it blotted out the planet Earth.

I can remember at the age of about six being fascinated by the planets and learning all about Mars and Venus and things.

I've been studying the planets and learning the personalities of each planet.

We don't use Hubble to stare at Jupiter unless there's a special event or some special reason.

We may have a tacit understanding of how our solar system works, but watching the sun disappear behind the moon reminds us of the vastness of space and the enduring mysteries of the universe we inhabit.

The questions that we scientist have about Saturn's rings are the questions that an ordinary person might be moved to ask when first seeing them, you know. What caused them? How did they get there? How long have they been around? How long are they going to last?

I think when people see Pluto revealed by New Horizons, its satellite system, its complex surface, its atmosphere, I think they'll have a hard time saying 'That's not a planet' because it obviously will be, and I think most people are already coming to that opinion anyway, but I think that's really going to drive it home viscerally.

Planets look about the same here as they do to you on the Earth because we really aren't that much closer. Our home, the International Space Station, orbits around the Earth at about 200 miles.

To say that what a planet is doesn't matter would be to imply that a planetary scientist couldn't explain to someone what the field is about.

Astronomy teaches the correct use of the sun and the planets.

The universe is hilarious! Like, Venus is 900 degrees. I could tell you it melts lead. But that's not as fun as saying, 'You can cook a pizza on the windowsill in nine seconds.' And next time my fans eat pizza, they're thinking of Venus!

The earth together with its surrounding waters must in fact have such a shape as its shadow reveals, for it eclipses the moon with the arc of a perfect circle.

I have always loved astronomy, and being an astronomer once lurked in the back of my mind. But I was never good at algebra. In fact, I flunked it twice in high school.

The public has an incredible capacity for appreciating the wonder of our planet, our solar system, our universe.

The sun and its retinue of planets drift as a group through the vast gulfs of space that separate the stars.

Planets are too dim to be detected with existing equipment, far away, except in these very special circumstances where they're seen by their gravitational effect.

Most people today still believe, perhaps unconsciously, in the heliocentric universe every newspaper in the land has a section on astrology, yet few have anything at all on astronomy.

The development of the telescope, together with increased knowledge of things, brought men to see that the earth is not what man had once thought it to be.

Everything has a natural explanation. The moon is not a god, but a great rock, and the sun a hot rock.

I only watch National Geographic Channel, and also I have the app on my phone. I'm into astronomy and love to learn about new facts.

Scarce any problem will appear more hard and difficult, than that of determining the distance of the Sun from the Earth very near the truth: but even this... will without much labour be effected.

There are improbable things suspended in space, like the earth.