Neil deGrasse Tyson was born and raised in New York City where he was educated in the public schools clear through his graduation from the Bronx High School of Science. Tyson went on to earn his BA in Physics from Harvard and his PhD in Astrophysics from Columbia University.
Tyson's professional research interests include star formation, exploding stars, dwarf galaxies, and the structure of our Milky Way. Tyson obtains his data from the Hubble Space Telescope, as well as from telescopes in California, New Mexico, Arizona, and in the Andes Mountains of Chile. In 2001, Tyson was appointed by President Bush to serve on a 12-member commission that studied the Future of the US Aerospace Industry. The final report was published in 2002 and contained recommendations (for Congress and for the major agencies of the government) that would promote a thriving future of transportation, space exploration, and national security.
In addition to dozens of professional publications, Dr. Tyson has written, and continues to write for the public. And since January 1995, has become a monthly essayist for Natural History magazine under the title "Universe." Tyson's recent books include a memoir The Sky is Not the Limit: Adventures of an Urban Astrophysicist; the companion book to the opening of the new Rose Center for Earth and Space One Universe: At Home in the Cosmos (coauthored with Charles Liu and Robert Irion); and a playful Q&A book on the universe for all ages titled Just Visiting This Planet.
Tyson's contributions to the public appreciation of the cosmos have recently been recognized by the International Astronomical Union in their official naming of asteroid "13123 Tyson". On the lighter side, Tyson was voted sexiest Astrophysicist Alive" in the November 14, 2000 People Magazine, which is their annual "Sexiest Man Alive" issue.
Tyson is the first occupant of the Frederick P. Rose Directorship of the Hayden Planetarium where he also teaches. Tyson lives in New York City with his wife and two children. [End]
