Ron Schmit has been active in astronomy in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul since 1986. He has been an astronomy educator at the Science Museum of Minnesota, the Minneapolis Planetarium, the Eisenhower Observatory in Hopkins, Minnesota, the Staring Lake Observatory in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and is a member of the Minnesota Astronomical Society. His quest to explore the heavens has always included the desire to help others -- to open them to the wonders of the cosmos.

In the past, this pursuit has been on a part-time or volunteer basis. Now, he gets to do it professionally! In 2014, he was hired as the Observatory Coordinator for Jackson Middle School in Champlin, Minnesota. The largest middle school in the state, Jackson has an observatory and planetarium in a building behind the school. Every day, students are coming out for news and lessons from the frontier of space. As a Solar System Ambassador, he serves as a resource for this community on the planetary exploration of our celestial neighborhood.