The laser excited, jet-cooled (A) over tilde (2)A(2)"-(X) over tilde E-2(1)" electronic spectrum of the cyclopentadienyl radical yields detailed information about the vibronic structure of both its (A) over tilde and (X) over tilde states. A straightforward assignment of the (A) over tilde vibronic structure is presented. The (X) over tilde state vibronic structure reveals a comprehensive picture of the Jahn-Teller distortion of its potential energy surface. The molecular parameters characterizing the Jahn-Teller interaction provide the stabilization energy and distorted geometry, which are compared to previous experimental and ab initio results. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.