Neil deGrasse Tyson
Born 1958 · Age 67
American astrophysicist, author, and science communicator; longtime director of the Hayden Planetarium and prolific popularizer of science in books, TV, radio, and podcasts.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Manhattan, New York City
Neil deGrasse Tyson born to Cyril and Sunchita Tyson in Manhattan, New York.
First visit to the Hayden Planetarium; interest in astronomy sparked
At age nine, a trip to the Hayden Planetarium sparked Tyson's lifelong interest in astronomy and science communication.
Received first telescope (12th birthday)
Tyson's father bought him a telescope for his twelfth birthday, deepening his interest in astronomy.
Awarded Explorers Club scholarship for 1973 total solar eclipse cruise
At age 14, Tyson received a scholarship from the Explorers Club to view the June 30, 1973 total solar eclipse aboard the SS Canberra with leading scientists and public figures.
Gave public astronomy lectures as a teenager
By age 15 Tyson was giving lectures on astronomy and becoming known in amateur astronomy circles.
Invited by Carl Sagan to visit Cornell
Carl Sagan personally invited the 17‑year‑old Tyson to spend a day in Ithaca, an influential mentorship moment.
Graduated Bronx High School of Science and enrolled at Harvard
Graduated from The Bronx High School of Science (captain of wrestling team, editor-in-chief of school science journal) and began undergraduate studies at Harvard University.
Earned BA in Physics from Harvard College
Tyson graduated from Harvard with a Bachelor of Arts degree in physics.
Earned MA in Astronomy from University of Texas at Austin
Completed graduate work at UT Austin and received a Master of Arts in astronomy.
Won national ballroom dancing gold medal (International Latin)
Tyson won a gold medal at a national ballroom dancing tournament in the International Latin style (reported in biographies).
Lecturer in astronomy at University of Maryland
Served as a lecturer in astronomy at the University of Maryland (1986–1987).
Entered Columbia University astronomy graduate program; married Alice Young
Accepted into Columbia's graduate program in astronomy/astrophysics and married Alice Young (1988).
Earned MPhil in Astrophysics from Columbia
Completed a Master of Philosophy in astrophysics at Columbia University.
Awarded PhD in Astrophysics from Columbia University
Completed doctoral thesis 'A Study of the Abundance Distributions Along the Minor Axis of the Galactic Bulge' under advisor R. Michael Rich.
Postdoctoral research associate at Princeton University begins
Served as a postdoctoral research associate at Princeton University (1991–1994).
Joined Hayden Planetarium as staff scientist
Joined the Hayden Planetarium (American Museum of Natural History) as a staff scientist while affiliated with Princeton.
Became acting director of the Hayden Planetarium
Appointed acting director of the Hayden Planetarium in June 1995.
Appointed Director of the Hayden Planetarium
Formally appointed director (Frederick P. Rose Directorship) and began overseeing major renovation/rebuilding.
Coined the term 'Manhattanhenge'
Coined the word 'Manhattanhenge' (coined 1996) to describe the Manhattan sunset alignment phenomenon; term popularized later.
Founded the Department of Astrophysics at AMNH
Established the Department of Astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History.
Hayden Planetarium $210M reconstruction project completed; planetarium reopened
Oversaw and completed the $210 million reconstruction and re-opening of the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space.
Published memoir The Sky Is Not the Limit
Released autobiography The Sky Is Not the Limit: Adventures of an Urban Astrophysicist.
Appointed to Presidential Commission on the Future of the U.S. Aerospace Industry
Appointed by President George W. Bush to a 12-member commission (final report published 2002).
Published 'City of Stars' column popularizing 'Manhattanhenge'
In a special edition column 'City of Stars' for Natural History magazine, Tyson popularized the term 'Manhattanhenge'.
Named research associate in AMNH Department of Astrophysics
Officially became a research associate in the American Museum of Natural History's Department of Astrophysics.
Hosted PBS NOVA miniseries 'Origins' and co‑authored companion book
Hosted the four‑part NOVA Origins series and coauthored the companion volume Origins: Fourteen Billion Years of Cosmic Evolution with Donald Goldsmith.
Appointed to 'Moon, Mars, and Beyond' Presidential Commission
Served on the President's Commission on Implementation of US Space Exploration Policy (Moon, Mars and Beyond).
Awarded NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal
Received NASA's highest civilian honor, the Distinguished Public Service Medal, for service on space policy commissions.
Began hosting NOVA ScienceNow on PBS
Became host of PBS series NOVA ScienceNow (host 2006–2011).
Spoke at Beyond Belief symposium
Speaker at the November 2006 'Beyond Belief: Science, Religion, Reason and Survival' symposium.
Published Death by Black Hole; received Klopsteg Memorial Award; named Time 100
Death by Black Hole collected essays from his 'Universe' column; also received Klopsteg Memorial Award and was named to Time magazine's '100 Most Influential People'.
Narrated PBS documentary '400 Years of the Telescope' (premiered April 2009)
Narrator and collaborator on the PBS documentary about telescopes, premiered April 2009.
Launched StarTalk radio pilot
Launched a one‑hour radio pilot for StarTalk, co‑hosted with Lynne Koplitz (May 2009); later evolved into a podcast and TV franchise.
Hosted 40th anniversary Apollo 11 celebration
Hosted the 40th anniversary celebration of Apollo 11 at the National Air and Space Museum (July 2009).
PBS NOVA ScienceNow host tenure ends
Concluded hosting NOVA ScienceNow in 2011 (final season); contract and hosting period ends circa 2011.
StarTalk podcast relaunched
StarTalk was resurrected as a podcast in December 2010 with new co-hosts (Chuck Nice, Leighann Lord) and a broadened format.
Keynote speaker at Phi Theta Kappa 93rd International Convention
Delivered the keynote lecture titled 'Skepticism' jointly with James Randi (April 2011).
Published Space Chronicles: Facing the Ultimate Frontier
Released his tenth book arguing for ambitious space exploration policies and strategies.
Announced StarTalk YouTube/Nerdist series
Announced plans for a YouTube series based on StarTalk distributed on the Nerdist YouTube Channel.
Hosted Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey
Executive science editor and on‑camera host for the 13‑episode revival continuation of Carl Sagan's Cosmos (aired 2014 on FOX/NatGeo).
Celebrity guest at White House Student Film Festival
Appeared as a celebrity guest at the White House Student Film Festival (Feb 28, 2014).
Awarded Public Welfare Medal by National Academy of Sciences
Received the U.S. National Academy of Sciences' Public Welfare Medal for extraordinary public science engagement (2015).
StarTalk TV spin‑off began airing on National Geographic
StarTalk television adaptation (based on the podcast) began airing on National Geographic in 2015; later expanded into a late‑night format.
Voiced character in film 'Ice Age: Collision Course'
Provided the voice of an imaginary weasel in the animated feature film Ice Age: Collision Course (2016).
Co‑authored Welcome to the Universe; StarTalk: The Book
Collaborated on major popular‑science books (Welcome to the Universe; StarTalk: The Book) released around 2016.
Published Astrophysics for People in a Hurry (bestseller)
Released a concise overview of astrophysics that became a domestic and international bestseller.
Published Accessory to War; faced sexual misconduct allegations (late 2018)
Coauthored Accessory to War (2018). In late 2018 several women publicly accused Tyson of sexual misconduct; broadcasters suspended projects pending investigation.
Investigations completed; projects resumed and AMNH retained him as director
Fox and National Geographic concluded their inquiries and resumed association; American Museum of Natural History announced it had completed its investigation and Tyson continued as Hayden Planetarium director.
Premiered Cosmos: Possible Worlds (follow‑up season)
Returned as host for a follow‑up season of Cosmos titled Cosmos: Possible Worlds (premiered March 9, 2020).
Abandoned video game project 'Neil deGrasse Tyson Presents: Space Odyssey'
Development of an educational sandbox video game with Whatnot Entertainment (announced ~2016) was abandoned after April 2020.
Published Cosmic Queries: StarTalk's Guide (coauthored)
Released Cosmic Queries: StarTalk’s Guide to Who We Are, How We Got Here, and Where We're Going (coauthored with James Trefil).
By 2021 had received ~27 honorary doctorates and other honors
Profile/bios note that by 2021 Tyson had been awarded roughly twenty‑seven honorary doctorates and multiple honors; asteroid 13123 Tyson named in his honor.
Published updated 'Merlin’s Tour of the Universe' (21st‑century update)
Released a 21st‑century update of his early Q&A book Merlin’s Tour of the Universe (illustrated by brother Stephen J. Tyson).
Continuing director of Hayden Planetarium and active science communicator
As of recent profiles (2024–2025) Tyson remains Frederick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium, research associate at AMNH, and active in media and publishing.
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