Exist Dates
1999 -
Biographical or Historical Note
- abstract
- 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).
Sources
(1) American Museum of Natural History. Annual Reports. New York:
American Museum of Natural History, 1934-2006.
(2) Mordecai-Mark Mac Low Curriculum Vitae [pdf] accessed from
http://www.amnh.org/our-research/staff-directory/mordecai-mark-mac-low
(3) Rebecca Oppenheimer Curriculum Vitae [pdf] accessed through
http://www.amnh.org/our-research/staff-directory/rebecca-oppenheimer
(4) American Museum of Natural History. "Scientific Staff," Annual
Reports. New York: American Museum of Natural History, 1934-2006. Note years
1948-50, 2004-05 and 2007 to present do not detail staff
directories.
(5) American Museum of Natural History. Author bio: "Carter Emmart" in
Natural History. Retrieved April 22, 2015 from
http://www.naturalhistorymag.com/author/carter-emmart
(6) James Webster Curriculum Vitae [pdf] accessed from
http://www.amnh.org/our-research/staff-directory/james-webster
(7) American Museum of Natural History. Grapevine (July/August 1990).
In James Webster Personal File.
(8) Denton Ebel Curriculum Vitae [pdf] accessed through
http://www.amnh.org/our-research/staff-directory/denton-s.-ebel
(9) American Museum of Natural History. "Hayden Planetarium: Staff."
Retreived April 22, 2015 from
http://www.amnh.org/our-research/hayden-planetarium/staff
Chronology
- 1999 - present: New
York
The Department of Astrophysics is one of the scientific departments at
the American Museum of Natural History, which is located in New York,
N.Y.
- 1999: Department 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)
- 1999: Gottesman Hall of Planet Earth opens in June, marking the completion
of the first stage of the Rose Center (1, 1999 p. 6)
- 2000: Establishment 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)
- 2005: Mordecai-Mark Mac Low is promoted to Curator-in-Charge of the
Department of Astrophysics (2)
- 2013: Rebecca Oppenheimer is named Curator-In-Charge of Astrophysics.
(3)
Terms
- localDescription
- enhanced
- place
- New
York

dates: 1999-present
The Department of Astrophysics is one of the scientific departments at
the American Museum of Natural History, which is located in New York,
N.Y.