Derrick Pitts


Derrick H. Pitts is an American astronomer. He is Chief Astronomer and Planetarium Director for the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He has been named as one of the 50 most important African-Americans in research science. He was the president of the Philadelphia chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. He has made numerous television appearances, including shows such as The Colbert Report, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, 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 in Philadelphia, PA.
Mr. Pitts is a graduate of Germantown Academy , St. Lawrence University, and has received honorary Doctor of Science degrees from La Salle University, and Rowan University College of Mathematics and Science.