He said: ""For the last 10 years or so many of my musical adventures have been with friends from Bristol and Bath, so I'm fully aware of the Bell and its legacy and its contribution to the musicians and audience in the surrounding area.
"Stephen frequently referred to them as his greatest joy, inspiration, and most significant contribution and legacy to the world, " Whitman said in the news release.
Above all, it is helpful that Americans should be informed about the very rich cultural legacy of Iran and its contribution to the development of world civilization.
It's an astonishing achievement by any standards, but Kepler's enduring legacy may be much more profound that its contribution to a simple head count of exoplanets.