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Neil deGrasse Tyson
Celia McDonald
Biography
● born October 5, 1958 (age:56)
● second of three children
● mother:gerontologist, father:sociologist
● born and raised in New York City
Biography Cont.● attended public schools
o graduated from the Bronx High School of
Science
o wrestling team captain, editor-in-chief of
Physical Science Journal
● Received BA in Physics from Harvard, MA in
Astronomy from UT, PhD in Astrophysics
from Columbia, postdoc at Princeton
● Married Alice Young in 1988
● 2 Children: Miranda & Travis
Interest in Astronomy
● Became interested in astronomy at the young age of 9
after visiting the Hayden Planetarium (which he would
later direct)
● In high school he won many summer scholarships to
study astrophysics in Africa, Utah, and Scotland
● When he was 15 he was invited to give a lecture at the
City University of New York
● Met Neil Armstrong, Isaac Asimov, Carl Sagan in teens
Biggest Contributions● Less research, more public outreach and education
o public face of the field of astronomy
● Able to explain complex scientific concepts to everyday
people
● Makes astronomy and science more compelling and
interesting to average people
● Studies wide range from star formation, to exploding
stars, to dwarf galaxies, and the structure of our galaxy
Contributions
● 5th head of the Hayden Planetarium in New York City
● 1st occupant of the Frederick P. Rose Directorship
● Research associate of the Department of Astrophysics
at the American Museum of Natural History
● President, VP, and chairman of the board of the
Planetary Society
More Contributions
● Appointed to various commissions to study the future of
US space exploration etc.
● Lots of professional publications
o essayist for Natural History
o memoirs and other works
● Host of various science shows
o NOVA ScienceNow
o Cosmos: A SpaceTime Odyssey
● Many awards and honorary doctorates
State of Astronomy
● Pretty much the same as now…
● Most of the things known now have been known for
most of NDT’s lifetime
● Lots of new observations and discoveries have
been made but there haven’t been many large
changes in fundamental theories
● One change is the disqualification of Pluto as a
planet which caused big controversy concerning
NDT
Legacy
● Recipient of the NASA Distinguished
Public Service Medal, highest award
given by NASA to a non-government
citizen
● Recognized by the International
Astronomical Union in the official
naming of asteroid 13123 Tyson
● Voted Sexiest Astrophysicist Alive by
People Magazine in 2000.
Legacy● Appearance in Action Comics 14, he helps Superman
see his home planet
● meme● 2004 Fifty Most Important African-Americans in Research Science
● 2007 Harvard 100: Most Influential Harvard Alumni
● 2007 The Time 100, one of the 100 most influential persons in the world
● 2008 Discover Magazine "The 10 Most Influential People in Science"
Bibliography
"About Neil DeGrasse Tyson." About Neil DeGrasse Tyson. Hayden Planetarium, 2015. Web. 19 Feb.
2015. <http://www.haydenplanetarium.org/tyson/profile/about-neil-degrasse-tyson>.
Calahan, Rose. "Star Power." The Alcalde RSS. Texas Exes, 28 Feb. 2012. Web. 19 Feb. 2015.
<http://alcalde.texasexes.org/2012/02/star-power/>.
Dove, Laurie L. "10 Cool Things About Neil DeGrasse Tyson." HowStuffWorks. HowStuffWorks.com,
22 Apr. 2014. Web. 18 Feb. 2015. <http://science.howstuffworks.com/dictionary/famous-
scientists/astronomers/10-cool-things-neil-degrasse-tyson.htm#page=11>.
"Neil DeGrasse Tyson." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Sept. 2006. Web. 19 Feb. 2015.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_deGrasse_Tyson>.
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★ born: in NYC in 1958
★ Astronomer and astrophysicist
★ Mostly involved in public outreach and
education
★ Helps make science easier to understand
and more relatable to average people
