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. He co-hosts a weekly radio discussion program called Skytalk on WHYY-FM in Philadelphia, PA.
Dr. Pitts is a graduate of Germantown Academy (Fort Washington, PA), St. Lawrence University, (Canton, NY) and received an honorary Doctor of Science degree from La Salle University (Philadelphia, PA).