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Events on Friday 20 December 1996 1
1934 – 1996Carl Sagan (1934-1996)Died 20 December 1996, aged 62Carl Sagan was an American astronomer and science communicator best known for the television series "Cosmos" and his efforts to popularize planetary science and the search for extraterrestrial life. He advised NASA on numerous missions and authored bestselling books including "Contact" and "The Demon-Haunted World." He died of pneumonia following a long battle with myelodysplasia.