Derrick Pitts

Derrick H. Pitts is an American astronomer. He is Chief Astronomer and Planetarium Director for the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1] He has been named as one of the 50 most important African-Americans in research science.[2] He was the president of the Philadelphia chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.[3] He has made numerous television appearances, including shows such as The Colbert Report,[4] The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson,[5] Countdown with Keith Olbermann, The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell, and The Ed Show. Since 1991, he's co-hosted a weekly radio discussion program called Skytalk on WHYY-FM[6] in Philadelphia, PA.

Mr. Pitts is a graduate of Germantown Academy (Fort Washington, PA), St. Lawrence University, (Canton, NY) and has received honorary Doctor of Science degrees[7] from La Salle University (Philadelphia, PA), and Rowan University College of Mathematics and Science.