History of Neil deGrasse Tyson in Timeline
Neil deGrasse Tyson is a prominent American astrophysicist, author, and science communicator. Educated at Harvard, University of Texas, and Columbia, he held a postdoctoral position at Princeton before joining the Hayden Planetarium in 1994. He became the planetarium's director in 1996, overseeing its extensive reconstruction completed in 2000. Simultaneously, he held a research scientist and lecturer position at Princeton. Since 1996, Tyson has remained the director of the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space in New York City and founded the Department of Astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History.
October 5, 1958: Neil deGrasse Tyson Born
On October 5, 1958, Neil deGrasse Tyson, an American astrophysicist, author, and science communicator, was born.
June 1973: Scholarship to View Solar Eclipse
In June 1973, at the age of 14, Neil deGrasse Tyson received a scholarship from the Explorers Club of New York to view a total solar eclipse aboard the SS Canberra.
1975: Meets Carl Sagan
In 1975, Carl Sagan invited the 17-year-old Neil deGrasse Tyson to spend a day in Ithaca, influencing Tyson's aspirations as a scientist.
1976: Graduates from Bronx High School of Science
In 1976, Neil deGrasse Tyson graduated from The Bronx High School of Science, where he was captain of the wrestling team and editor-in-chief of the Physical Science Journal.
1980: Graduates from Harvard
In 1980, Neil deGrasse Tyson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in physics from Harvard College.
1983: Master of Arts Degree
In 1983, Neil deGrasse Tyson received a Master of Arts degree in astronomy from the University of Texas at Austin.
1984: Rape Accusation by Thchiya Amet El Maat
In 1984, Thchiya Amet El Maat accused Neil deGrasse Tyson of drugging and raping her while they were graduate students at UT Austin.
1986: Lecturer at University of Maryland
From 1986 to 1987, Neil deGrasse Tyson was a lecturer in astronomy at the University of Maryland.
1987: Lecturer at University of Maryland
From 1986 to 1987, Neil deGrasse Tyson was a lecturer in astronomy at the University of Maryland.
1988: Marriage to Alice Young
In 1988, Neil deGrasse Tyson married Alice Young, whom he met in a physics class at the University of Texas at Austin.
1988: Graduate Program at Columbia University
In 1988, Neil deGrasse Tyson was accepted into the astronomy graduate program at Columbia University.
1989: Master of Philosophy Degree
In 1989, Neil deGrasse Tyson earned a Master of Philosophy degree in astrophysics at Columbia University.
1991: Postdoctoral Research at Princeton
In 1991, Neil deGrasse Tyson became a postdoctoral research associate at Princeton University, marking a significant step in his early career.
1991: PhD in Astrophysics
In 1991, Neil deGrasse Tyson earned a PhD degree in astrophysics from Columbia University.
1993: Declining Interviews Focused on Race
Since 1993, Neil deGrasse Tyson has declined interviews that primarily focus on his race, preferring to emphasize his work in astrophysics.
1994: Joins Hayden Planetarium and Princeton Faculty
In 1994, Neil deGrasse Tyson joined the Hayden Planetarium as a staff scientist and also became a visiting research scientist and lecturer at Princeton University.
1994: Staff Scientist at Hayden Planetarium
In 1994, Neil deGrasse Tyson joined the Hayden Planetarium as a staff scientist while he was a research affiliate at Princeton University.
June 1995: Acting Director of Hayden Planetarium
In June 1995, Neil deGrasse Tyson became acting director of the Hayden Planetarium.
1995: "Universe" Column for Natural History Magazine
In 1995, Neil deGrasse Tyson began writing monthly essays for the "Universe" column in Natural History magazine.
1996: Director of Hayden Planetarium
In 1996, Neil deGrasse Tyson became the director of the Hayden Planetarium, undertaking the oversight of its $210 million reconstruction project.
1996: Coins Term Manhattanhenge
In 1996, Neil deGrasse Tyson coined the term "Manhattanhenge", inspired by the Stonehenge monument.
1997: Founds Department of Astrophysics
In 1997, Neil deGrasse Tyson founded the Department of Astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History.
1998: Publishes "Merlin's Tour of the Universe" and "Just Visiting This Planet"
In 1998, Neil deGrasse Tyson published "Merlin's Tour of the Universe" and "Just Visiting This Planet", which included material from his StarDate magazine column.
May 2000: Wine Spectator Feature
In May 2000, Neil deGrasse Tyson's wine collection was featured in the Wine Spectator.
2000: Hayden Planetarium Reconstruction Completed
In 2000, the $210 million reconstruction project of the Hayden Planetarium, overseen by Neil deGrasse Tyson, was completed.
2000: Reconstruction Project Completed
In 2000, the $210 million reconstruction project of the Hayden Planetarium, overseen by director Neil deGrasse Tyson, was completed.
September 11, 2001: Eyewitness to 9/11 Attacks
On September 11, 2001, Neil deGrasse Tyson, living near the World Trade Center, witnessed the September 11 attacks and wrote a widely circulated letter about his experience.
2001: Government Commission on Aerospace Industry
In 2001, Neil deGrasse Tyson served on a government commission addressing the future of the U.S. aerospace industry.
2002: Popularizes "Manhattanhenge"
In 2002, Neil deGrasse Tyson popularized the term "Manhattanhenge" in a "City of Stars" column for Natural History magazine.
2003: Research Associate in Astrophysics
In 2003, Neil deGrasse Tyson became a research associate in the Department of Astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History.
2004: Hosts "Origins" Miniseries
In 2004, Neil deGrasse Tyson hosted the four-part "Origins" miniseries of the PBS Nova series and co-authored the companion volume.
2004: Space Exploration Policy Commission & NASA Medal
In 2004, Neil deGrasse Tyson served on the President's Commission on Implementation of United States Space Exploration Policy and was awarded the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal.
2005: Wine collection
In 2005, Neil deGrasse Tyson's wine collection was featured in The World of Fine Wine.
2005: Panel about genetic differences
In 2005, Tyson participated in a panel where he expressed his view that addressing disparities in opportunities must precede any discussion about genetic differences affecting success in scientific fields.
2005: Remarks on Diversity in Science
In 2005, at a conference at the National Academy of Sciences, Neil deGrasse Tyson responded to a question about women in science by emphasizing that societal barriers prevent equal opportunity, particularly for women and Black people, in the sciences.
November 2006: Speaker at Beyond Belief Symposium
In November 2006, Neil deGrasse Tyson attended and was a speaker at the Beyond Belief: Science, Religion, Reason and Survival symposium.
2006: Hosts NOVA ScienceNow
In 2006, Neil deGrasse Tyson began hosting the television show NOVA ScienceNow on PBS.
2006: Beyond Belief Workshop
In 2006, Neil deGrasse Tyson participated in the Beyond Belief workshop, where he discussed his views of science, spirituality, and the spirituality of science.
2006: Pluto's Reclassification
In 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) reclassified Pluto as a dwarf planet, aligning with Neil deGrasse Tyson's approach at the Hayden Planetarium.
2007: Appeared on 'Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!'
In 2007, Neil deGrasse Tyson participated on the NPR radio quiz program Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
2007: Publishes "Death by Black Hole"
In 2007, Neil deGrasse Tyson published "Death by Black Hole", a book compiling some of his essays from Natural History magazine.
2007: Keynote Speaker at Deerfield Academy
In 2007, Neil deGrasse Tyson was the keynote speaker during the dedication ceremony of Deerfield Academy's new science center, emphasizing the impact of science on the twenty-first century and the value of investing in science.
2008: Footage Included in Documentary
In 2008, footage filmed by Neil deGrasse Tyson on September 11, 2001, was included in the documentary film 102 Minutes That Changed America.
April 2009: Narrates "400 Years of the Telescope"
In April 2009, Neil deGrasse Tyson narrated the documentary "400 Years of the Telescope", which premiered on PBS.
May 2009: Launches StarTalk Radio Show
In May 2009, Neil deGrasse Tyson launched a one-hour radio talk show called StarTalk, co-hosted with Lynne Koplitz.
2009: Allegation by Katelyn Allers
In 2009, Katelyn Allers alleged that Neil deGrasse Tyson touched her inappropriately at an American Astronomical Society gathering.
2009: Hosts StarTalk Podcast
In 2009, Neil deGrasse Tyson started hosting the weekly podcast StarTalk.
2009: Remarks on Atheism
In 2009, during an interview, Neil deGrasse Tyson stated that he does not identify as an atheist and is not interested in converting people to any particular belief. He clarified that he doesn't have the time, energy, or interest to conduct himself in that way.
March 2010: Advocacy for NASA Funding
In March 2010, Neil deGrasse Tyson addressed the public perception of NASA funding, stating that it only costs half a penny on the dollar, contrary to public belief.
December 2010: StarTalk Resurrected
In December 2010, the StarTalk radio show was resurrected with comedians Chuck Nice and Leighann Lord as co-hosts.
2010: Allegations by an anonymous woman
In 2010, an anonymous woman alleged Tyson made inappropriate comments to her during a holiday party at the American Museum of Natural History.
April 2011: Keynote Speaker at Phi Theta Kappa Convention
In April 2011, Neil deGrasse Tyson was the keynote speaker at the 93rd International Convention of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society.
May 2011: Donation of Guest Speaking Income
In a May 2011 StarTalk Radio show, Neil deGrasse Tyson mentioned that he donates all income earned as a guest speaker.
2011: End of Nova ScienceNow Hosting
In 2011, Neil deGrasse Tyson concluded his role as the host of the PBS program Nova ScienceNow.
March 2012: Testimony Before the United States Senate Science Committee
In March 2012, Neil deGrasse Tyson testified before the United States Senate Science Committee.
November 7, 2012: Action Comics #14 Published
On November 7, 2012, Action Comics #14, featuring Neil deGrasse Tyson, was published. In the story, Tyson determines that Superman's home planet, Krypton, orbited the red dwarf LHS 2520.
2012: StarTalk YouTube Series Announced
In 2012, Neil deGrasse Tyson announced that he would appear in a YouTube series based on his radio show StarTalk.
2012: Founding of Penny4NASA Campaign
In 2012, inspired by Neil deGrasse Tyson's advocacy for NASA, John Zeller founded Penny4NASA, a campaign to double NASA's budget to one percent of the federal budget.
January 2013: Appearance in Action Comics
In January 2013, Neil deGrasse Tyson appeared in Action Comics #14, where he identified the star system of Superman's home planet, Krypton.
May 2013: Science Laureates of the United States Act of 2013 Introduced
In May 2013, Neil deGrasse Tyson was listed as a possible nominee for the position of Science Laureate, after the Science Laureates of the United States Act of 2013 was introduced into Congress.
February 28, 2014: Celebrity Guest at White House Student Film Festival
On February 28, 2014, Neil deGrasse Tyson was a celebrity guest at the White House Student Film Festival.
March 8, 2014: SXSW Interactive Keynote Presentation
On March 8, 2014, Neil deGrasse Tyson delivered a SXSW Interactive keynote presentation at the Austin Convention Center.
March 2014: Discussion on God and Atheism
In March 2014, during a discussion with philosopher Massimo Pigliucci, Neil deGrasse Tyson expressed that he remains unconvinced by claims about the existence or power of a divine force. He also reiterated his discomfort with labels, particularly "atheist," preferring adjectives to describe his stance, such as "I really don't care."
March 2014: Remarks on Philosophy
In March 2014, during an episode of The Nerdist Podcast, Neil deGrasse Tyson stated that philosophy is "useless" and that a philosophy major "can really mess you up", which was met with disapproval and later criticism from philosopher Massimo Pigliucci.
June 3, 2014: Co-Reviewed Gravity on CinemaSins
On June 3, 2014, Neil deGrasse Tyson co-reviewed the movie Gravity in a CinemaSins episode.
2014: Revives Cosmos Series
In 2014, Neil deGrasse Tyson helped revive Carl Sagan's Cosmos: A Personal Voyage television series, presenting Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey.
2014: Hosts Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey
In 2014, Neil deGrasse Tyson hosted the television series Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, a successor to Carl Sagan's 1980 series.
2014: Comments on genetics and opportunity
In 2014, Tyson discussed his 2005 panel comments, emphasizing the need to dismantle social barriers before addressing scientific questions about genetic differences. He also expressed that race is not central to his career message.
April 20, 2015: Hosts StarTalk on National Geographic
On April 20, 2015, Neil deGrasse Tyson began hosting a late-night talk show entitled StarTalk on the National Geographic Channel.
September 29, 2015: Co-Reviewed Interstellar on CinemaSins
On September 29, 2015, Neil deGrasse Tyson co-reviewed the movie Interstellar in a CinemaSins episode.
2015: Appeared on 'Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!'
In 2015, Neil deGrasse Tyson participated on the NPR radio quiz program Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
2015: StarTalk Airs on National Geographic
In 2015, a spin-off of Neil deGrasse Tyson's podcast StarTalk began airing on National Geographic.
March 31, 2016: Co-Reviewed The Martian on CinemaSins
On March 31, 2016, Neil deGrasse Tyson co-reviewed the movie The Martian in a CinemaSins episode.
2016: Co-developing "Space Odyssey" Video Game
Around 2016, Neil deGrasse Tyson was co-developing a sandbox video game with Whatnot Entertainment, Neil deGrasse Tyson Presents: Space Odyssey.
2016: Guest Appearance on Avenged Sevenfold Album
In 2016, Neil deGrasse Tyson made a guest appearance on the Avenged Sevenfold album The Stage, delivering a monolog on the track "Exist".
2016: Narrated Food Evolution
In 2016, Neil deGrasse Tyson narrated and was a script supervisor for the science documentary Food Evolution.
2016: Death of Cyril deGrasse Tyson
In 2016, Neil deGrasse Tyson's father, Cyril deGrasse Tyson, a sociologist and human resource commissioner, passed away.
2017: Appeared on Logic's Album Everybody
In 2017, Neil deGrasse Tyson appeared on Logic's album Everybody as God, uncredited on various tracks, and credited on the song "AfricAryaN".
2017: Publishes "Astrophysics for People in a Hurry"
In 2017, Neil deGrasse Tyson published "Astrophysics for People in a Hurry", a book compiling some of his essays.
December 2018: Sexual Misconduct Allegations
In December 2018, Neil deGrasse Tyson was accused of rape and inappropriate sexual advances by multiple women.
2018: Guest Appearance on The Big Bang Theory
In 2018, Neil deGrasse Tyson made a second guest appearance on The Big Bang Theory as himself, together with Bill Nye, in the first episode of the show's final season.
January 3, 2019: StarTalk Episodes Put on Hiatus
On January 3, 2019, National Geographic Channel announced that they were putting further episodes of StarTalk on hiatus due to investigations into the allegations against Tyson.
March 3, 2019: Cosmos Premiere Delayed
On March 3, 2019, the premiere of Cosmos: Possible Worlds was delayed while investigations into allegations against Neil deGrasse Tyson continued.
March 15, 2019: Investigations Complete, Programs to Resume
On March 15, 2019, National Geographic and Fox announced that the investigation into Neil deGrasse Tyson was complete and that both StarTalk and Cosmos would resume.
March 9, 2020: Returns with Cosmos: Possible Worlds
On March 9, 2020, Neil deGrasse Tyson returned with a follow-up season of Cosmos titled Cosmos: Possible Worlds.
April 2020: "Space Odyssey" Development Abandoned
In April 2020, the development of Neil deGrasse Tyson's "Space Odyssey" video game was abandoned.
2023: Death of Sunchita Maria Tyson
In 2023, Neil deGrasse Tyson's mother, Sunchita Maria Tyson, a gerontologist, passed away.
