Born:
October 05, 1958
Birthplace: Bronx, New York, United States
Trivia:
At the age of 14, won a scholarship from the Explorers Club for a cruise on the S.S. Canberra to Mauritania to see a solar eclipse. Was the captain of the wrestling team and editor of the physical science journal at his high school. As a senior in high school, was invited by Carl Sagan to visit him at Cornell University. In 1996, became the Frederick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space in New York. In 1997, founded the Astrophysics Department at the American Museum of Natural History. Served as a presidential adviser when appointed by George W. Bush to a commission on the future of the aerospace industry in 2001. In 2004, published a memoir, The Sky Is Not the Limit. Was named one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2007. Is an avid collector of writing instruments.