Assorted Honors
- Honorary Degree: Doctor of Science
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Commencement: May 19, 2008
- The Time 100
- Voted by the Editors of Time Magazine (May 4, 2007) as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
- Honorary Degree: Doctor of Science
- Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts. Commencement: June 3, 2007
- Top Ten Space Imaginations at Work
- Space.com, 2006
- Honorary Degree: Doctor of Science
- Pace University, New York City. Convocation: April 23, 2006
- Writer-In-Residence
- Department of English, Yeshiva University, New York. Fall 2005
- NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal
- The highest honor awarded by NASA to a non-government civilian. September 22, 2004
- Honorary Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
- City University of New York, College of Staten Island, Commencement: June 3, 2004
- Honorary Degree: Doctor of Science
- Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, Commencement: June 14, 2003
- The Minority 100
- Voted by editors of Crain's Magazine (April 28, 2003) to be among the 100 most powerful minority business Leaders in New York.
- Honorary Degree: Doctor of Science
- Bloomfield College, Bloomfield New Jersey, Commencement: May 23, 2002
- The Tech 100
- Voted by editors of Crain's Magazine (May 21, 2001) to be among the 100 most influential technology leaders in New York.
- Medal of Excellence
- Columbia University, New York City, Commencement: May 16, 2001
- Honorary Degree: Doctor of Science
- University of Richmond, Richmond Virginia, Commencement: May 13, 2001
- Asteroid:
13123 Tyson
- Renamed from Asteroid 1994KA on November 19, 2000 by the International Astronomical Union. Discovered by Carolyn Shoemaker and David Levy. A main-belt asteroid peaking at Vmag = 16.9
- Sexiest Astrophysicist Alive
- In People Magazine's
Sexiest Man Alive
issue November 13, 2000 - Honorary Degree: Doctor of Science
- Ramapo College, Mahway, New Jersey, Commencement: May 22, 2000
- Honorary Degree: Doctor of Science
- Dominican College, Orangeburg, New York, Commencement: May 21, 2000
- Honorary Degree: Doctor of Science
- York College, City University of New York, Commencement: June 2, 1997
- Crain's Magazine
40 under 40
- Voted by Craines' editors in 1996 to be among the forty most influential New Yorkers under the age of forty.
