DAVID A. AGUILAR 

is an internationally recognized naturalist/astronomer, author, space artist and musician with the unique ability to open minds to the vast frontiers of space and their potential effects on our own world. His expertise lies in sparking intricate, yet fascinating connections between the universe, nature, and ourselves.  Through the development of global study tours, space science books, media consulting and provocative lectures, he contributes to some of today’s leading space-science exploration programs. 

He strives to inspire young space enthusiasts with his award-winning books designed for kids and space learners of all ages. In December 2020 National Geographic released an all new 2nd edition of the very popular space guide entitled “Space Encyclopedia”. Last year’s release, “LUNA: The Science and Stories of Our Moon” (National Geographic) marked the historic 50th anniversary of man’s landing on the moon.  He is also author/illustrator of nine additional National Geographic and three Random House books including: ”7 Wonders of the Milky Way”, Space Encyclopedia, “Cosmic Catastrophes - 7 Ways to Destroy a Planet Like Earth”, “13 Planets”, and “Alien Worlds - Your Guide to Extraterrestrial Life in the UNIVERSE. 

He is a 2018 recipient of the National Science Teachers Association Outstanding Science Trade Book Award and New York Public Library’s “Top Pick - Best Books for Kids and Teens”; the Junior Library Guild Award, Garden State Book Award for BEST Science Book,  the CA Reading Association Eureka! Award, and the Texas Topaz Outstanding Science Book Award. 

He is former Director of Science Information and Public Outreach at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) in Cambridge, MA, the world’s largest astronomical research organization. He is the past Director of Media & Marketing Communications for Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corporation in Boulder, Colorado and past Director of the Fiske Planetarium and Science Center at the University of Colorado in Boulder.  After 14 years with Harvard CfA, he joined NASA’s New Horizons Mission Media Team for the historic Flyby of Pluto and re-joined the team again in 2018-19 for the Ultima Thule Kuiper Belt (KBO) Flyby to the farthest object ever explored in our solar system. 

He is an onscreen contributor, content developer and space artist for the History Channel’s “UNIVERSE” series, the Science Channel’s “NASA Unexplained Files”, and NHK (Japanese National Television Corporation) COSMIC FRONT series, and a featured narrator in the nationally touring, award-winning documentary on the father of space art, “Chesley Bonestell: A Brush With The Future”. 

In 2010, Asteroid 1990DA was named in honor of his exceptional contributions to the advancement of science education. These days he can be found in his research observatory just outside Aspen, CO searching for alien Earth-like planets orbiting distant stars!

TELEVISION and RADIO CREDITS see also IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm7950342/

• 2018-19, Space Artist and Onscreen Contributor on “Cosmic Front” for NHK Japanese National Television Corp.

• Onscreen Contributor, award-winning feature documentary “A Brush with the Future” based on the extraordinary life of “father” of space art, Chesley Bonestell.

• HISTORY CHANNEL Onscreen Contributor & Space Artist on History Channel's "UNIVERSE" series - "Alien Faces" and "Alien Worlds" and “Alien Invasion" Episode. Season 1 Episode 9.

• SCIENCE CHANNEL:  Onscreen Contributor, NASA's Unexplained Files (TV Series documentary) Season 5. 22. Episodes airing 2016-2017:

  - Mars Deepest Secret(2016)

  - Mystery of the Invisible Planet (2016)

  - The Earth Next Door (2016)

  - A President's Close Encounter (2016)

  - Rise of the Planet Killer (2016)

  - Pluto's Stranger Things (2016)

  - Horror in the Cosmos (2016)

  - The Moon That Disappeared (2016)

  - Rise of the Ice Creatures (2016)

  - Pluto Under Pressure (2016)

• Contributor, Science Channel's "UFO Hunters".

• Radio credits include the BBC, and NPR's Here and Now.

SPACE ART CREDITS:

• NASA/JPL, Smithsonian, BBC, History Channel, Weather Channel, ABC Nightly News, CBS, CNN, NY Times, USA Today, National Geographic, Sky & Telescope, Astronomy Magazine, Scientific American, Nature, TIME, US News & World Report, space.com, and NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day.  His music has appeared in television and movie soundtracks including NBC’s “Aquarius”, the Hollywood film “Demolition”, and a few vintage B-movies!

STUDY TOURS:

• Smithsonian Science Lecturer and Harvard World Tours Expert Study leader developing astronomy experiences across the globe from Kazakhstan to Easter Island - Antarctica:

  Earth & Sky: Astronomy in the Chilean Andes; Astronomy of Hawaii; The Underwater Worlds of Tahiti and French Polynesia; Exploring the Amazon; African Safari;  Discovering Alaska;  Iceland – Land of Ice and Fire;  Mysteries of Machu Picchu and Easter Island;  Voyage to Antarctica;  Inside the Russian Space Program–a journey to Kazakhstan for the launch of cosmonauts to the International Space Station;  In The Footsteps of Galileo;  Around the World by Private Jet;  Exploring the Emerald British Isles;  Treasures of Mystical India;  & Astronomy in Arizona; Black Sea on the Island Sky; Baja California and the Sea of Cortez; Grand Tour of Australia & New Zealand; Regent Seven Seas, Crystal Cruise Lines, Silversea and THE WORLD voyages.

MEMBERSHIPS & BOARDS: