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Elizabeth Howell

Elizabeth Howell is a contributing writer for Space.com who is one of the few Canadian journalists to report regularly on space exploration. She is pursuing a Ph.D. part-time in aerospace sciences (University of North Dakota) after completing an M.Sc. (space studies) at the same institution. She also holds a bachelor of journalism degree from Carleton University. Besides writing, Elizabeth teaches communications at the university and community college level. To see her latest projects, follow Elizabeth on Twitter at @HowellSpace.

Articles by: Elizabeth Howell

Alan Eustace during a skydive. The 2016 documentary "14 Minutes from Earth," which just became available on Netflix, documents Eustace's record-setting 2014 jump.

Netflix Premieres Nail-Biting '14 Minutes From Earth,' With Bold Stratospheric Jump

By Elizabeth Howell

The documentary "14 Minutes From Earth," which just premiered on Netflix, shows the secrecy behind, and the excitement following, the highest free-fall jump ever.

The Red Bull Air Force took to the skies on March 20, 2019 to celebrate the Supermoon.

Sparks Fly as Skydivers Glide Past a Dazzling Supermoon in Epic Red Bull Stunt!

By Elizabeth Howell

Trailing sparks between their wingsuits, the Red Bull Air Force swept into Los Angeles from above on Thursday (March 20) to celebrate the third and final supermoon of 2019.

An Arianespace Vega rocket carrying the PRISMA Earth-observation satellite lifts off from Kourou, French Guiana, on March 21, 2019.

Vega Rocket Launches Earth-Watching PRISMA Satellite for Italy

By Elizabeth Howell

A European Vega rocket launched the Italian Earth-observation satellite PRISMA into orbit late Thursday (March 21).

From midnorthern latitudes on spring evenings, the Big Dipper, Boötes, and Virgo can be found high in the sky from the northeast to southeast. Follow the red arrows from the Dipper's handle to arc to Arcturus and the kite-shape of Boötes, and then proceed to speed to Spica in Virgo.

Arcturus: Facts About the Bright Red Giant Star

By Elizabeth Howell

Arcturus is a red giant that is one of the brightest stars in Earth's night sky.

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'Apollo 11' Featurette Explores Technological Leaps of Filmmakers

By Elizabeth Howell

A new documentary, "Apollo 11," includes a trove of unseen film footage of the July 1969 launch that brought two humans to the surface of the moon.

A supermoon climbed its way to the top of the Washington Monument, Sunday, June 23, 2013, in Washington as seen in the amazing space wallpaper. This year the supermoon is up to 13.5 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than a typical full moon is.

See the 'Super Worm Moon' Rise with the Spring Equinox Today!

By Elizabeth Howell

rigel, witch head nebula

Rigel: Orion's Brightest Star

By Elizabeth Howell

Rigel is the brightest star in Orion, and will eventually explode into a supernova, most astronomers say.

Holiday Supermoon

What Is a Supermoon?

By Elizabeth Howell

SpaceX Dragon and Space Station Meet

SpaceX's Dragon: First Private Spacecraft to Reach the Space Station

By Elizabeth Howell

The Dragon spacecraft first reached the International Space Station in 2012.

Hubble Space Telescope image of NGC 6052, a pair of colliding galaxies that lies in the constellation of Hercules, about 230 million light-years away from Earth.

When Galaxies Collide! Gorgeous Hubble Photo Gives Glimpse of Milky Way's Fate

By Elizabeth Howell

A new image from the venerable Hubble Space Telescope shows what happens when two galaxies collide — an experience our own Milky Way will have in a few billion years.

NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Christina Koch will form the first two-woman spacewalk team for a mission outside the space station March 29, 2019.

The First All-Female Spacewalk Is Set for This Month

By Elizabeth Howell

Two U.S. astronauts will make the first all-female spacewalk in history on March 29, if all goes to plan — just in time for Women's History Month.

NASA's InSight lander deploys its heat probe on Mars on Feb. 12, 2019.

First 'Mole' on Mars Hits Rocky Snag Beneath the Red Planet's Surface

By Elizabeth Howell

The first Martian "mole" encountered some obstacle underground as the NASA InSight lander dug below the surface, NASA reported.

Full Size Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo

SpaceShipTwo: On a Flight Path to Space Tourism

By Elizabeth Howell

SpaceShipTwo could be flying private customers into space within the next few years.

Voyager 1 captured this image of Jupiter and its moon Ganymede (bottom left) when it was just over a month away from its closest approach to the planet in 1979.

What Voyager 1 Learned at Jupiter 40 Years Ago

By Elizabeth Howell

It was 40 years ago today (March 5) that Voyager 1 flew past Jupiter, revealing a surprising planetary system that includes moons of ice and fire.

The merging galaxies NGC 7752 (larger) and NGC 7753 (smaller), collectively called Arp 86. Blue and green represent wavelengths of light strongly emitted by stars, while red shows a wavelength mostly emitted by dust.

Why Galaxies Snuggling Together Are Bad News for Starbirth

By Elizabeth Howell

You could say that some relationships are doomed — especially in astronomy.

The Canadian Space Agency has joined NASA's Lunar Orbiting Platform Gateway project for moon exploration with its Canadarm3 robotic arm.

Canada Joins NASA's Lunar Gateway Station Project with 'Canadarm3' Robotic Arm

By Elizabeth Howell

NASA's Lunar Gateway space station project has secured its first international partnership. Canada pledged to contribute a "Canadarm3" smart robotic arm to repair and maintain the Gateway.

SpaceShipTwo's first passenger

Virgin Galactic's 1st Test Passenger Felt Like Spider-Man After Launch

By Elizabeth Howell

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See Jupiter with the Moon Before Dawn Wednesday (Venus and Saturn, Too!)

By Elizabeth Howell

Jupiter, the biggest planet of the solar system, will get close to the moon in the dawn sky on Wednesday (Feb. 27). Saturn and Venus will be visible as well, so here's how to take a look at them.

Planet Mercury at its best

Spot the 'Elusive' Planet Mercury at Its Best Tonight

By Elizabeth Howell

Virgin Galactic video shows SpaceShipTwo flight

Amazing Virgin Galactic Launch Video Shows Black Sky, Blue Earth

By Elizabeth Howell

Ride along with Virgin Galactic at the edge of space in an incredible new YouTube video from the SpaceShipTwo suborbital rocket, VSS Unity, and its carrier aircraft, WhiteKnightTwo.

Keri Bean (facing camera), the NASA tactical uplink lead for Opportunity, hugs a colleague during a press conference discussing the end of the Opportunity mission on Feb. 13, 2019. The event took place at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.

In Photos: How NASA Said Goodbye to the Opportunity Rover on Mars

By Elizabeth Howell

HERA at Houston's Johnson Space Center

Astronauts Struggle with Finishing Tasks on Mock Space Missions

By Elizabeth Howell

Five bright patches of gas created by a newborn star in nebula NGC 1333

Hubble Spots Gassy Objects Jetting Away from Newborn Star

By Elizabeth Howell

Young stars can hide, but Hubble's good at seeking them out. The famed space telescope spotted the "smoking gun" of a newborn star about 1,000 light-years away from Earth.

Tadpole-shaped sunspots leave the surface of the sun.

Solar 'Tadpoles' May Contribute to Superhot Upper Atmosphere of the Sun

By Elizabeth Howell

Are those really baby frogs swimming out from the sun? A NASA spacecraft spotted jets shaped like tadpoles in regions of intense solar magnetic activity.

Asteroid impact and dinosaur extinction

What Really Killed the Dinosaurs? Asteroid and Volcanoes Might Share the Blame

By Elizabeth Howell

The asteroid or comet that smacked into Earth 66 million years ago might not be the only culprit behind the dinosaurs' demise.