Who Is Neil Degrasse Tyson? (Who Was?)

Find out how Neil deGrasse Tyson became one of America's best-known scientists.

When he was nine years old, Neil deGrasse Tyson went on a trip that would change his life. While visiting the Hayden Planetarium at the Museum of Natural History in New York City, he discovered the world of astronomy and felt like the universe was calling to him. He answered that call by diving deep into astronomy courses. After graduating from the Bronx High School of Science, he went on to earn a doctorate in astrophysics and eventually found his way back to the Hayden Planetarium as a staff scientist and, later, as its director.

Neil has not only found an exciting way to share his love and knowledge of space through his documentaries and podcasts, he's also brought diversity to astrophysics as one of the few African American people in his field. He is a published author, television host, and winner of the prestigious Public Welfare Medal for the role he has played in exciting the public about the wonders of science.