About Jason

Jason is pleased to have been asked to be part of the NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador Program for 2009. More information about Jason's intention with this amazing outreach program by NASA are here.

Jason Kendall is your neighbor in Inwood. He holds a Master of Science in Astronomy from New Mexico State University. He has taught Astronomy at the high school and college level. Currently, he is also part of the Explainer Program at the American Museum of Natural History in the Earth And Space Division. On Sunday mornings, Jason can be found roaming the Rose Center explaining Size Scales of the Universe, or talking about the origin of the Solar System with the Willamite Meteorite. He has led numerous "starwatching parties" at New Mexico State University, Minnesota State University in Mankato, and The University of Texas at Austin. It all started way back when Jason was in the fourth grade by the encouragement of two noted astronomers, Charles Schweighauser and Bart Bok. Jason saw Saturn through Charlie's telescope at then Sangamon State University and always wanted to see it again and again and again. Bart Bok inspired Jason by telling him at the same ripe young age to come visit him at Kitt Peak National Observatory. Jason did make it down there about 10 years after Bart passed away, finding 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. Jason hopes to inspire a few kids in our little neighborhood just like Bart and Charlie did for him.

Of course, there is a baseball player with my name. Unfortunately, he is not (yet) doing IYA outreach. If someone can get him in contact with me to do a coordinated effort, it would be good for Major League Baseball to show its support for science education. Here he is.

Jason is proud to be part of NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Solar System Ambassador Program since 2009. All Jason's NASA/JPL SSA events will feature NASA-related material, highlighting discoveries made by NASA missions and show the amazing strides in space exploration.

• National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• Jet Propulsion Laboratory
• NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador Program

Astronomical equipment used at stargazing events:

Obsession 15" UC Dobsonian Telescope
Celestron 8" Nextar SE Telescope
Galileoscope 2" Refractor Telescopes
Meade 8.8mm f.l. Ultra-Wide eyepiece
Televue Ethos 17mm eyepiece

Resumes: a brief technical (Word), a short tech PDF, artistic work in theater, and a theatrical acting resume. You may also read about Shakespeare Saturdays, The Merry Month of May and his commedia play, The Dentist.

Jason was present at the World Trade Center disaster and continues to work for Cantor-Fitzgerald/BGC Partners. You may read his experiences from that day here.

Come see what's up in the sky!

Jason Kendall
Director: Inwood Astronomy Project
NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador to New York City

The Inwood Astronomy Project is thankful for the support of the NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassadors Program, 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