Frank Drake

Astronomer

Frank Drake is an American astronomer known for formulating the Drake Equation, which estimates the number of extraterrestrial civilizations in our galaxy.

Born
January 1, 1930
Quotes
6
Rank
#1150

About Frank Drake

Frank Drake — Life and Legacy

Frank Drake is a prominent American astronomer best known for his formulation of the Drake Equation, a groundbreaking tool that estimates the number of active extraterrestrial civilizations in the Milky Way galaxy. His work has significantly influenced the field of astrobiology and the scientific approach to the search for extraterrestrial life. Drake's core thinking revolves around the idea that the universe is vast and potentially teeming with life. The Drake Equation encapsulates this perspective, as it considers various factors such as the rate of star formation and the fraction of stars with planets. By stating, "The universe is a big place; perhaps the biggest," he emphasizes the importance of scientific inquiry and the need to explore beyond our planet. His approach challenges the notion that Earth is unique, encouraging a broader understanding of life in the cosmos. Today, Drake's quotes and ideas continue to resonate, inspiring both scientists and enthusiasts in the quest to understand our place in the universe. His work not only highlights the potential for extraterrestrial life but also reflects a deep curiosity about the unknown, urging humanity to look beyond its terrestrial confines.

Quote collection

Frank Drake quotes

6 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.

Frank Drake Astronomer
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"Other intelligent life-forms will differ greatly in appearance - they may resemble the creature in E.T. or startle us with their beauty - but life itself is common, I'm certain."

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Frank Drake Astronomer
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"Only by doing the best we can with the very best that an era offers, do we find the way to do better in the future."

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Frank Drake Astronomer
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"Forty years as an astronomer have not quelled my enthusiasm for lying outside after dark, staring up at the stars. It isn't only the beauty of the night sky that thrills me. It's the sense I have that some of those points of light are the home stars of beings not so different from us, daily cares and all, who look across space with wonder, just as we do."

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Frank Drake Astronomer
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"To use Newton's words, our efforts up till this moment have but turned over a pebble or shell here and there on the beach, with only a forlorn hope that under one of them was the gem we were seeking. Now we have the sieve, the minds, the hands, the time, and, particularly, the dedication to find those gems-no matter in which favorite hiding place the children of distant worlds have placed them."

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Frank Drake Astronomer
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""I know perfectly well that at this moment the whole universe is listening to us," Jean Giraudoux wrote in The Madwoman of Chaillot, "and that every word we say echoes to the remotest star."That poetic paranoia is a perfect description of what the Sun, as a gravitational lens, could do for the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence."

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