Past Residencies - Kevin Schindler

A man in a red jacket stands outside in front of a white NASA roving vehicle.
Kevin Schindler, Grand Canyon's seventh Astronomer in Residence.

Photo courtesy Kevin Schindler

Kevin Schindler is the historian and Public Information Officer at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, where he has worked for 28 years. He shares Lowell’s long history of research and exploration through writing and public presentations and contributes articles for a variety of publications on subjects ranging from space and exploration to local history. Schindler contributes a bi-weekly astronomy column, “View from Mars Hill,” for the Arizona Daily Sun newspaper and has authored seven books, including Images of America: Northern Arizona Space Training, which features a chapter about the Grand Canyon. Fun fact: Kevin has both a fossil crab and asteroid named after him!

As Lowell Observatory’s Historian for over two decades, Kevin Schindler was selected as Grand Canyon’s Astronomer in Residence for his extraordinary record of unveiling the history of astronomy in the Grand Canyon region. His residency focused on researching and sharing NASA’s Apollo Astronauts’ connections with the region in preparation for their historic missions to the Moon. Public programs included the history of astronaut training at Grand Canyon, as well as stargazing programs that involved comparisons of classic Greek and Roman mythological stories with traditional stories of local indigenous communities, and more.

 
A diary with 31 rows of Kevin Schinder's daily notes.
Astronomer in Residence Kevin Schinder's detailed diary of outreach programs during his residency at Grand Canyon, May 1 - June 1, 2023.

Photo courtesy Kevin Schindler

Residency Accomplishments

  • 5/3-5/4 - Presented talks about the Moon and other space topics to 3rd-7th graders at Grand Canyon School - 90 students.
  • 5/5, 5/12, 5/26, 5/31 - Presented, "Astronaut Training at the Grand Canyon" at Grand Canyon Visitor Center Theater. - 510 attendees.
  • 5/6, 5/13, 5/28 - Presented, "Constellations over the Canyon." laser-guided sky tour. - 560 attendees.
  • 5/7 - "Cemetery Tour" for local staff. - 15 attendees.
  • 5/17, 5/18 - 4 public programs at Phantom Ranch, including two astronomy programs. - 115 attendees.
  • 5/19, 5/20 - 3 public astronomy programs at Havasupai Gardens - 57 attendees.
  • Recorded a podcast with Star Stuff: "Apollo Astronauts at Grand Canyon?"
  • Recorded a livestream presentation with Grand Canyon Historical Society: "Buckey O'Neill's Grand Canyon"
  • 8 public solar/moon viewing sessions - 487 attendees.
  • Produced a column in the Arizona Daily Sun titled, "A Residency for Astronomy at Grand Canyon."
  • Presented a talk titled, "Astronaut Training at Grand Canyon" to Grand Canyon Conservancy donors and members at the 2023 Grand Gathering on June 9, 2023. - 150 attendees.
  • Grand Canyon Star Party special guest speaker, June 13th, 2023. "Astronaut Training at Grand Canyon."- 600 attendees.
 
A crowd sits on pavement outside. A man stands in front of a projector.
Kevin Schindler provided numerous evening programs to packed audiences about the Apollo Astronauts training at Grand Canyon in the 1960s.

NPS Photo

 
A man with a hat peers into a red telescope perched on a stone wall.
Kevin Schindler provided numerous days of solar and moon telescope viewing on the rim of the Grand Canyon to the visiting public.

NPS Photo

 
A man stands next to a woman on a mule.
Kevin Schindler spent several nights on the trails of Grand Canyon, recreating the Apollo Astronaut training pictures from the 1960s. Here he is with Lisa "Tex" Parker at Havasupai Gardens.

NPS Photo

 

Last updated: August 1, 2023

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

PO Box 129
Grand Canyon, AZ 86023

Phone:

928-638-7779

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