Bill Nye, Neil deGrasse Tyson Celebrate Past & Future of Space Exploration at Planetary Society’s 35th Anniversary
Tyson receives Cosmos Award; “Martian” author Andy Weir, space stars delight community
Beyond the horizon,
over the the next hill,
that’s where we make discoveries
that’s the new frontier.
It is in us to look farther and deeper.
It’s deep within us
That’s why we are all here.
– Bill Nye, Beyond the Horizon by melodysheep
Pasadena, CA (October 24, 2015) — Closing out The Planetary Society’s 35th Anniversary celebration in Pasadena, melodysheep’s new “Symphony of Science” music video, “Beyond the Horizon,” echoed the night’s theme: there’s more to explore. In a year marked by space exploration landmarks — from the historic New Horizons Pluto Flyby, to steps to get humans to Mars by the 2030s — the event celebrated past visionaries, present leaders and the role new generations play in planetary science discoveries.
Bill Nye (The Science Guy), Planetary Society CEO, hosted fans at a star-studded space-themed variety show, More to Explore.
“Part of the success of the human species has always been our drive to explore, to see what’s beyond the horizon,” said Nye. “For 35 years now, The Planetary Society has empowered citizens of Earth to participate beyond the horizon of space, to look up and out into the cosmos. We look forward to many more years of discovery.”
Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist and 19-year Planetary Society Board Member, received The Planetary Society’s Cosmos Award for Outstanding Public Presentation of Science. Tyson, Director of New York City’s Hayden Planetarium, hosted Cosmos: A SpaceTime Odyssey, a television series that paid tribute to Carl Sagan’s original Cosmos program.
“Every day, Neil deGrasse Tyson inspires this and the next generation of explorers,” Nye explained. “He encourages us all to use the process of science to ask questions, to seek answers to nature’s mysteries, to keep searching, to know the cosmos and our place within it. Neil inspires the students among us today, who will carry on with the search for life on Mars and Europa. They will solve cosmic mysteries that many of us have yet to even imagine. It’s an honor to know him.”
The show featured Andy Weir, author of the book “The Martian” (blockbuster film in theaters now); actors from Star Trek, including Nichelle Nichols, Robert Picardo, and Jeri Ryan; NASA Deputy Administrator, Dr. Dava Newman; NASA scientist Amy Mainzer; and Planetary Society personalities Emily Lakdawalla, Jim Bell, Bruce Betts, Mat Kaplan, Casey Dreier, and Jennifer Vaughn. Co-founded by Carl Sagan, Louis Friedman and Bruce Murray, The Planetary Society works to empower the world’s citizens to advance space and exploration.
The event was held at The Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, Ca. Earlier that day, Nye and members of The Planetary Society Board of Directors hosted a building dedication ceremony at The Society’s new headquarters nearby. A Family Space Fair followed, featuring author book signings, activities for children and tours of the new office space.
More to Explore attendees experienced the world premiere of melodysheep’s newest “Symphony of Science” music video, “Beyond the Horizon.” The video featured Co-founder Carl Sagan, CEO Bill Nye, senior editor and planetary evangelist Emily Lakdawalla, and Neil deGrasse Tyson, whose closing statement urged viewers:
Find your place in space
Space is vast and unexplored
There’s a lot of work to do.
– Neil deGrasse Tyson, Beyond the Horizon by melodysheep
