Jason Kendall
The Inwood Astronomy Project, New York City
Astronomy Education and Dark Sky Advocacy
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Upcoming Inwood Astronomy Project Special Events

Summertime Stargazing in Inwood Hill Park
Clear Saturday nights in the Summer
Inwood Hill Park, Bear Rock Meadow
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AMNH Space Tour with the 5th Brooklyn Scouts
Sunday, April 28: 10:30 AM
Helping out with Traditional Scouting!
New York City, New York


Cassini: Mission to Saturn, the Jewel of the Solar System
Friday, May 17, 7:00 PM
Stamford Museum and Nature Center
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Extreme Urban Stargazing: Outreach in New York City and Beyond
Saturday, June 8: 1:00 PM
A public lecture at the Cherry Springs Star Party
Cherry Springs State Park, Galeton, Pennsylvania
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Nine Planets, Nine missions.
Friday, June 28, 7:00 PM
Stamford Museum and Nature Center
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The Big Bang: latest results from Planck
Friday, July 12, 7:00 PM
Stamford Museum and Nature Center
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The Big Bang: latest results from Planck
Wednesday, August 7, 7:00 PM
Washington Square Institute with the AIAA, Long Island Section.
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The Big Bang: latest results from Planck
Saturday, August 10, 2:00 PM
New York Public Library, Inwood Branch
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Life in the Universe
Saturday, July 13, 2:00 PM
New York Public Library, Inwood Branch
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Where We Watch the Sky in New York City

Stargazing sessions are supported by the Amateur Astronomers Association of New York.


As an integral part of our community, we make use of our great parks and what they have to offer. We really do have some nice parks. And suprisingly, we can actually see some dark skies, and see all of the main celestial wonders. Come join us!

Stargazing Locations in Inwood Hill Park

Indoor Event Locations


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Image credit: NASA


About Jason Kendall

I hold a Master of Science in Astronomy from New Mexico State University and am currently adjunct faculty at William Paterson University teaching astronomy. I am also a board member of the Amateur Astronomers Association of New York. Since 2008, I have led the Inwood Astronomy Project which brought over 200 events of stargazing and public astronomy outreach to upper Manhattan, including the historic Inwood Star Fest, where Inwood Hill Park lights were turned off as part of the 100 Hours of Astronomy event in IYA2009. This was the first time in New York City history when park lights were turned off for an astronomy event. I've also focused on park safety due to an uptick in sexual assaults in Washington Heights and Inwood during 2011. I've worked to make our parks safer by encouraging public use of parks at night through night-time events with Park Rangers. I have led numerous "starwatching parties" and astronomy events in New York City, New Mexico, Minnesota, New Jersey, Connecticut and Texas. I am also proud to have been part of the NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador Program from 2009 to 2012. It all started way back in the fourth grade by the encouragement of two noted astronomers, Charles Schweighauser and Bart Bok. I saw Saturn through Charlie's telescope at then Sangamon State University on a clear Illinois night, and Bart encouraged me under those stars to study hard to come visit him at Kitt Peak National Observatory. I finally did make it down there about a decade after Bart passed away, and I found the favorite spots in Tucson, Arizona, where Bart and his wife Priscilla would spend when they were not gazing at the stars. Bart and his wife were pioneers in the study of the Milky Way, and their studies of the starforming regions called Bok Globules. It's even in my family. My great-grandfather was a Midwestern minister who used to preach his sermons out under the dark, cloudless nights. He always believed that getting out and experiencing the wonders of the natural world was a central part of being human. My family has always been inspired by his words: "We look up to look within." I hope that you'll join me under the stars or at one of my talks.

Come see what's up in the sky!

Jason Kendall
The Inwood Astronomy Project is thankful for the support of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, the New York Public Library, the International Year of Astronomy and the Amateur Astronomers Association of New York


We look up to look within

William Paterson University Department of Physics American Astronomical Society Astronomical Society of the Pacific Amateur Astronomers Association of New York

(c) 2008 Jason Kendall | www.inwoodastronomy.org | MoonBeam.Net Productions | Contact
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