Hello world (and universe)! I'm a #space journalist from #Canada who writes about #spaceflight #rockets #astronomy #StarTrek #NASA and whatever else is trending that day.
I'm a full-time staff writer at Space.com and freelance for numerous other publications. I also teach communications at the post-secondary level.
My favourite stories cover #diversity, #stem and other ways to make our universe a little bit more inclusive. Here's an example:
https://www.space.com/world-space-week-learning-lunchbox-science-kit
In my spare time I enjoy #archaeology #history #libraries #gaming and learning #Latin.
Drop by and say hi!
I've been thinking for weeks about what this #Artemis2 announcement means for #Canada, and for diversity, in the context of #Apollo.
My editor kindly trusted me with a ~2,000 word "think piece" that strays into things like Greek/Roman mythology about the moon.
https://www.space.com/artemis-2-announcement-houston-canadian-history
I recently had the incalculable privilege of not only witnessing Canadian Jeremy Hansen receive a #moon mission at a capacity event in Houston ... but sitting down with him and 3 astronaut colleagues hours later.
The goodwill surrounding Jeremy comes from his generosity, and the comments here really show it. #Artemis2 #canada #nasa
https://www.space.com/artemis-2-canada-astronaut-long-spaceflight-wait
1st Native American #woman #astronaut wants the world to 'share in that joy' after #SpaceX Crew-5 flight. #space #diversity #nasa
https://www.space.com/spacex-crew-5-native-american-woman-astronaut-nasa
#PiDay turns 35: The circle of #mathematics needs more diversity, advocates say.
https://www.space.com/pi-day-35-year-anniversary-diversity-mathematics
International Women's Day: Female #astronauts keep making strides off Earth #iwd #space #nasa
https://www.space.com/international-womens-day-space-diversity-2023
That time I found a found a portal to the #moon behind an ordinary office door. I felt just like an #Apollo astronaut!
https://www.space.com/moon-rover-simulated-drive-apollo-astronaut
My #minimalism and #space interests finally meet in one glorious headline about #kerbalspaceprogram.
https://www.space.com/kerbal-space-program-2-release-day-trailer
Thanks to the #WhiteHouse for our exclusive talk regarding Vice-President #KamalaHarris, #climatechange & #space tech for Space.com.
"We have this enormity of data that's collected in space. What's the best way to be able to coordinate that information?" Chirag Parikh, National Space Council executive secretary and deputy assistant to President #JoeBiden.
https://www.space.com/vice-president-kamala-harris-spacex-amazon-climate-change
#LanceBass of #NSYNC once tried to go to #space. His new podcast 'The Last Soviet' heads back with a famed cosmonaut.
My exclusive video and interview with Bass at Space.com:
https://www.space.com/nsync-lass-bass-canceled-space-mission-podcast
NASA names moon mountain after Black mathematician and 'Hidden Figure' Melba Mouton: Melba Mouton worked during the era of "Hidden Figures" at NASA. The newly named Mons Mouton overlooks an area that will also be targeted by an ice-hunting rover in 2024 or so.
My latest in Space.com:
https://www.space.com/nasa-artemis-3-potential-landing-site-melba-mouton-hidden-figures
Falling #asteroid sparks brilliant #fireball over Europe just hours after discovery (video): It's just the seventh time that astronomers spotted a small body in #space before it entered our planet's atmosphere.
https://www.space.com/fireball-europe-found-hours-before-reaching-earth
The Leo Triplet, from my backyards last night.
I am not a big fan of over-saturated colors we often see in #astrophotography , let me know what you think of this one!
This is my first, very feeble, unstacked test-image of the Orion Nebula. Will be testing the whole stacking thing later on for the first time. But first, dinner.
Last night's effort at imaging the Orion Nebula included some sort of optical flaw. Very frustrating as processing this was difficult enough already. *Image has been retouched* to remove the most obvious flaw. Since the telescope is still set up I'll probably try again tonight -- despite freezing temperatures! The #OrionNebula, due to its size and brightness, is an excellent target for burgeoning deep space astrophotographers. Still not as easy as one might think! #astrophotography #M42
'Black history is American history': NASA celebrates African Americans and space achievements at Smithsonian event: The Black History Month event Friday (Feb. 10) included astronauts, NASA directors and a discussion of why diversity matters, with high schoolers making up much of the audience.
https://www.space.com/nasa-smithsonian-celebrates-black-history-space-achievements
How astronaut diversity changed for the better in a single NASA class recounted in 'The New Guys' book
The Moon reflecting the cloudy haze last night prevented proper autoguiding to get more subframes to do the Flaming Star nebula justice.
#astrophotography
Collecting some space horse photons tonight… my main project right now is taking a short break because the moon is almost full making it impossible to discern between photons from the sun, reflected by the moon and those of dim deep space nebulas.
The space horsey is relatively bright and with a hydrogen alpha narrowband filter gives pretty decent results even with the moon really bright.
This is a single 10-minute exposure.
🇨🇦 Staff writer, spaceflight at Space.com based in Ottawa. Also freelance + 5 books. Comms instructor. History nerd. Supports 🏳️🌈, diversity, libraries.
I fell in love with space as a teenager, after watching the movie Apollo 13 in 1996. I still want to be an astronaut!
My other social universes:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/howellspace
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethhowell/