Rate My Professor Neil Tyson

Tyson's research specializations include galactic bulge dynamics, stellar evolution, star formation models for dwarf galaxies, extragalactic and intergalactic supernovae, dwarf galaxies, and stellar populations. He has authored influential books such as Astrophysics for People in a Hurry (2017), Accessory to War: The Unspoken Alliance Between Astrophysics and the Military (2018, co-authored with Avis Lang), Letters from an Astrophysicist (2019), Cosmic Queries: StarTalk’s Guide to Who We Are, How We Got Here, and Where We Are Going (2021, co-authored with James Trefil), Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization (2022), and To Infinity and Beyond: A Journey of Cosmic Discovery (2023, co-authored with Lindsey Nyx Walker), many of which are New York Times bestsellers. As a science communicator, he hosted NOVA ScienceNOW (2006–2011), Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (2014), and Cosmos: Possible Worlds (2020). His honors include the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal (2004), Public Welfare Medal from the National Academy of Sciences (2015), Hubbard Medal from the National Geographic Society (2017), and Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication (2017), along with over 27 honorary doctorates. Tyson contributed monthly essays to Natural History magazine (1995–2005) and served on presidential commissions for U.S. aerospace (2001) and space exploration (2004), as well as NASA's Advisory Council (2006).