Neil deGrasse Tyson

  • Birth

    Birth
  • Period: to

    Neil deGrasse Tyson

  • Trip to Hayden Planetarium at The Museum of History

    Trip to Hayden Planetarium at The Museum of History
    Here he got his ''first taste of star gazing''. he later took classes at the Planetarium and got his own telescope. Here was a special oppertunity because most nine year olds do not get the oppertunity to go to a well known Planetarium and later take classes and receive his very own telescope.
  • Graduated Highschool

    Graduated Highschool
    An excellent student, Tyson graduated Bronx Highschool of Science in 1976.
  • Meets spouse

    Meets spouse
  • College

    Tyson earned a bachelors in Physic's from Harvard University and a doctorate in Astrophysics from Columbia University.
  • Work

    Work
    After graduating college he spent a few year doing Post-Doctorate work at Princeton University, Tyson later got a job at the Hayden Planetarium. Eventually became director of the Planetarium and worked on an extensive renovation of the facility, from assiting with its design to helping raise the necessary funds. This $200 million project was completed in 2000,and the revamped site offered visitors a cutting-edge look at astronomy.
  • Presidential Advisor

    Presidential Advisor
    Served as a Presidential Advisor in 2001. President Bush W. appointed him to commision on the future of the aerospace industry. He also served another commison three years later to examine U.S. policy on space exploration.
  • Classified Pluto as a Dwarf plantet

    He classified Pluto as a dwarf planet, which invoked a strong repsonse from some visitors in the Planetarium, since he removed it from the display of planets.
  • ''The Cosmos"

    Tyson is working on bringing back a classic science documentary, Cosmos, to televison. The original version featured Carl Sagan as host and provided a general audience with a greater understanding of the origin of life and our universe. The new series first aired in 2013.
  • Awards

    Awards
    NASA Distinguised Public Service Medal-1994
    Medal of Excellence-2001
    Klopsteg Memorial Award-2007
    Isaac Asimov Awards-2009
    Douglas S. Morrow Public Outreach Award-2009
    Shorty Award for Science-2014