This is Gregory Benford. We've bumped into each other I guess guess, for the last 30 years.

You may dimly remember, I'm a professor of physics at UC Irvine, and I've introduced you down there

to enormous crowds, several times.

Scientists often get bogged down in the details, but you've always

had the gift to look above the heads of the throng of detail and see the long perspectives. And everything you've written still applies to the future we're all still trying to bring about.

After all, we haven't walked on Mars yet.

And on this birthday, I certainly wish you long life and let's see some

more work. Thanks so much and happy birthday.

And thank you Greg Benford for helping us get a very special edition of Planetary Radio

underway.

Hi everyone, I'm Matt Kaplan.

You're going to hear many more birthday wishes for the man who may be the world's most beloved science fiction writer.

How fitting that the author who took us to Mars years ago

should have a birthday just as that planet comes closer to Earth than it has in more than 60 millennia.

The Planetary Society decided to throw a little party for Ray Bradbury.

More than a hundred friends and admirers showed up at the society's headquarters.

Others whose names you'll recognize sent their greetings to Ray.

After several hours of celebration in Pasadena, the party moved up one mile to the top of Mount

Wilson, even closer to the Red Planet. Join us as we honor Mr Bradbury.

Later we'll tell you how you can still get your own birthday message to Ray.

It began at Summer Twilight on an outdoor stage with the Society's Executive Director Lou Friedman.

We are pleased to be hosting this Mars Day and Mars Watch and Mars Week, if you will,

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