American Museum of Natural History Research Library
author: American Museum of Natural History

American Museum of Natural History. Department of Astrophysics; Department of Astrophysics 1999-
birth: 1999
The Department of Astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History was established in 1999 and took the place of the Department of Astronomy. Along with the Department of Earth and Planetary Science, it makes up the Division of Physical Sciences. This record pertains to the current Department of Astrophysics beginning in 1999.
The study of astronomy and astrophysics has had a number of departmental iterations since its inception in 1924 as the Department of Astronomy, then part of the Division of Mineralogy, Geology and Geography. With the establishment of the Hayden Planetarium in 1935, it became inextricably linked to the physical space, and would be known as the Department of Astronomy and Hayden Planetarium (1, 1936 p. 38). In 1953 it was renamed the Department of Astronomy and American Museum-Hayden Planetarium (1, 1953 p. 71). In the late 1990s there was a shift in departmental focus that coupled with the redesign of the Planetarium and construction of the Rose Center for Earth and Space. In 1999, the Department of Astrophysics was thus established, replacing the previous Department of Astronomy (1, 1999 p. 6; 2000 p. 17). Further, in 2000 Astrophysics became part of the overarching Division of Physical Sciences, which also includes its sibling Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences (1, 2000 p. 17). The physical space for the Division of Physical Sciences expanded in February of 2000 with the opening of the new Frederick Phineas and Sandra Priest Rose Center for Earth and Space. Besides being home to the scientific departments, the Rose Center is comprised of the redesigned Hayden Planetarium, the Harriet and Robert Heilbrunn Cosmic Pathway, the Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Hall of the Universe and the David S. and Ruth L. Gottesman Hall of Planet Earth, which opened in 1999. Although maintaining a strong relationship with the Department of Education and the Hayden Planetarium, Astrophysics would retain a distinct focus on theoretical, observational and practical scientific research. This record describes the Department of Astrophysics as established in 1999. For information about previous incarnations of this department see the Department of Astronomy (record ID: amnhc_3000047) and Hayden Planetarium (record ID: amnhc_3000045).
1999Department of Astrophysics established in July of 1999 in preparation and anticipation for the opening of the Rose Center. It superceded the previous Department of Astronomy, and reflected a shift in departmental scope. Michael Shara was appointed Curator-in-Charge of Astrophysics and Mordecai-Mark Mac Low joined the department staff. (1, 1999 p. 6; 2000 p. 17)
1999Gottesman Hall of Planet Earth opens in June, marking the completion of the first stage of the Rose Center (1, 1999 p. 6)
2000Establishment of the Division of Physical Sciences, comprised of the Department of Astrophysics and the Department of Earth and Planetary Science. James Webster was named the Divisional Chair. The Department of Astrophysics would retain a strong relationship with the Department of Exhibition (1, 2000 p. 17) On February 19, the Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Hall of the Universe, the Scales of the Universe, the Harriet and Robert Heilbrunn Cosmic Pathway, and the redesigned Hayden Planetarium open to the public, which incorporated the new Space Theater. Along with the Gottesman Hall of Planet Earth, these comprise the new Frederick Phineas and Sandra Priest Rose Center for Earth and Space. (1, 2000 p. 13-14)
2005Mordecai-Mark Mac Low is promoted to Curator-in-Charge of the Department of Astrophysics (2)
2013Rebecca Oppenheimer is named Curator-In-Charge of Astrophysics. (3)