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.^[8]