Editing Johnny Carson (section)

=== Other interests ===
Carson, an amateur [[astronomer]], was a close friend of astronomer [[Carl Sagan]], who often appeared on ''The Tonight Show''. The unique way Sagan had of saying certain words, like "billions" of stars, would lead Carson to ribbing his friend, saying "BILL-ions and BILL-ions". Carson was the first person to contact Sagan's wife [[Ann Druyan]] with condolences when the scientist died in 1996. He owned several [[telescope]]s, including a top-of-the-line unit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.company7.com/questar|title=Company Seven – Questar Products Index & Overview Page|date=November 2, 2012|work=company7.com}}</ref> In 1981, the [[minor planet]] 1981 EM<sub>4</sub> was named in his honor, [[Meanings of minor planet names: 3001–4000#252|3252 Johnny]].<ref>Wikipedia, [[List of minor planets: 3001–4000#252|List of minor planets.]]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=3252|title=Minor Planet Center: (3252) Johnny = 1981 EM4}}</ref> That year, a star was also [[International Star Registry|nicknamed after Carson]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Golden |first=Frederic |date=January 11, 1982 |title=Science: Stellar Idea or Cosmic Scam? |language=en-US |magazine=Time |url=https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,925195-1,00.html |access-date=September 1, 2022 |issn=0040-781X}}</ref>

Carson was an amateur [[drummer]] and was shown on a 1979 segment of ''[[60 Minutes]]'' practicing at home on a [[drum set]] given to him by his close friend [[Buddy Rich]], who was the jazz musician with the most appearances on ''The Tonight Show''. [[Gore Vidal]], another frequent ''Tonight Show'' guest and friend, wrote about Carson's personality in his 2006 memoir.<ref>Gore Vidal, ''Point to Point Navigation: A Memoir'', New York: Doubleday, 2006.</ref>

Carson was an avid tennis player. When he sold a Malibu house to [[John McEnroe]] and [[Tatum O'Neal]], the escrow terms required McEnroe to give Johnny six tennis lessons. Carson's primary tennis teacher was Bob Trapenberg, who taught him for some time, and traveled with him to Wimbledon.

Carson was also a private pilot; his flight logbook and jacket were donated after his death to the [[Experimental Aircraft Association]] in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.<ref>EAA Museum</ref>