Trending
Elizabeth Howell
Elizabeth Howell

Elizabeth Howell, Ph.D., is a contributing writer for Space.com since 2012. As a proud Trekkie and Canadian, she tackles topics like spaceflight, diversity, science fiction, astronomy and gaming to help others explore the universe. Elizabeth's on-site reporting includes two human spaceflight launches from Kazakhstan, and embedded reporting from a simulated Mars mission in Utah. She holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota, and a Bachelor of Journalism from Canada's Carleton University. Her latest book, NASA Leadership Moments, is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams. Elizabeth first got interested in space after watching the movie Apollo 13 in 1996, and still wants to be an astronaut someday.

Articles by: Elizabeth Howell

Leonardo DiCaprio (left) and Jennifer Lawrence portray ignored astronomers in Netflix's "Don't Look Up," a comet impact movie that doubles as a climate change warning.

Climate scientist and Netflix 'Don't Look Up' director talk comet metaphors and global warming (exclusive)

By Elizabeth Howell published

Adam McKay, creator of Netflix's popular satire-comedy movie "Don't Look Up," and climate scientist Kate Marvel talk why the world needs more films like the comet metaphor movie.

Artist's impression of the exoplanet TOI-2180 b.

Strange and hidden Jupiter-size exoplanet spotted by astronomers and citizen scientists

By Elizabeth Howell published

A group of astronomers and citizen scientists has uncovered a hidden planet the size of Jupiter in a distant solar system.

NASA's famous emblem.

NASA leasing bill morphs into 'freedom to vote' legislation

By Elizabeth Howell published

A recent bill meant to facilitate NASA raising money by leasing out underused facilities went in a most unexpected direction: expanding the right to vote.

India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle launches from Sriharikota.

New head of Indian space agency's 'biggest challenge' will be human spaceflight

By Elizabeth Howell published

Shri. Somnath is best-known for developing the country's highly successful PSLV rocket.

A blood moon taken on 27 July 2018

What is a blood moon?

By Elizabeth Howell, Scott Dutfield published

Reference If the rays of the setting or rising sun hit the moon just right, the blood moon appears.

Redshift and blueshift describe how light shifts toward shorter or longer wavelengths as objects in space (such as stars or galaxies) move closer or farther away from us.

Redshift and blueshift: What do they mean?

By Elizabeth Howell, Daisy Dobrijevic published

Reference Redshift and blueshift describe the change in the frequency of a light wave depending on whether an object is moving towards or away from us.

Artist's illustration of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, which launched on Dec. 25, 2021.

What will the James Webb Space Telescope look at first?

By Elizabeth Howell published

As the James Webb Space Telescope begins the lengthy process of aligning its 18 primary mirror segments, astronomers wonder: What will the huge observatory look at first?

An image of Halley's Comet taken in 1986.

Halley's Comet: Facts about history's most famous comet

By Elizabeth Howell published

The comet's frequent recurrence has played a part in historical events for millennia.

The Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS) for NASA's Artemis 2 mission arrived at the Space Coast on July 28, 2021. It is undergoing final preparations at prime contractors Boeing and United Launch Alliance's facilities and will soon be delivered to nearby Kennedy Space Center.

NASA getting SLS megarockets ready for crewed moon missions

By Elizabeth Howell published

The first SLS mission, an uncrewed flight around the moon, is scheduled to launch in March. Crewed missions are slated to follow in 2024 and 2025.

The James Webb Space Telescope's 21.3-foot (6.5 meter) diameter primary mirror.

James Webb Space Telescope begins lining up its golden mirrors

By Elizabeth Howell published

Just weeks after the excitement of launch, the James Webb Space Telescope is already seeking focus in space.

3D illustration of an asteroid flying past Earth

A 3,400-foot-wide asteroid will make a safe flyby of Earth next week

By Elizabeth Howell published

A huge asteroid will safely whiz by our planet next week.

An artist's impression of NASA's Mars InSight lander studying the interior of the Red Planet.

NASA's InSight Mars lander hunkering down in Red Planet dust storm

By Elizabeth Howell published

The spacecraft is riding out a dust storm, but the agency said it hopes to resume normal operations next week.

An artist's illustration of NASA's Terra Earth observation satellite in orbit.

New NASA chief scientist pledges a plan to renew agency's Earth satellite fleet

By Elizabeth Howell published

Some of the agency's Earth-observing satellites have been in operation since the late 1990s or early 2000s.

Artist's concept of China's Chang'e 5 lunar sample-return mission.

China's Chang'e 5 lunar lander is first to find water on the moon up close

By Elizabeth Howell published

Water was spotted on the moon nearly 15 years ago, but it was detected in real time on the lunar surface only by orbiters before now.

The "catch and launch" tower for SpaceX's Starship Mars rocket at the company's Starbase facility in South Texas is seen in this still from a video posted on Twitter by Elon Musk on Jan. 9, 2022.

Elon Musk unveils SpaceX launch and catch tower for Starship Mars rocket (video)

By Elizabeth Howell published

SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk just gave us a great look at the "launch and catch tower" for the company's massive Starship Mars rocket.

Artist's impression of the football-shaped exoplanet WASP-103b.

Weird 'hot Jupiter' exoplanet is shaped like a football

By Elizabeth Howell published

Planet WASP-103b got its unusual shape by orbiting very close to its parent star.

An artistic representation of the James Webb Space Telescope with its sunshield deployed.

James Webb Space Telescope should have fuel for about 20 years of science

By Elizabeth Howell published

A precise launch and pinpoint mid-course corrections so far have the telescope ready with plenty of propellant.

2013 map of background radiation left from the Big Bang

What is the Big Bang Theory?

By Elizabeth Howell, Andrew May published

The Big Bang Theory explains how the universe began.

An artist's illustration of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope fully unfolded. There is more work ahead after the observatory's deployment before it begins studying the universe.

The James Webb Space Telescope is fully deployed. So what's next for the biggest observatory off Earth?

By Elizabeth Howell published

Work for the James Webb Space Telescope is just beginning after was successfully deployed on Jan. 8.

The mission operations team of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope cheers as the huge observatory unfolded its final mirror segments into place to complete its deployment on Jan. 8, 2022.

'We're on an incredible high': James Webb Space Telescope scientists over the moon as observatory unfolds

By Elizabeth Howell published

From a Christmas launch to a tricky deployment, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope is now successfully deployed and scientists are thrilled.

Google celebrated the life and legacy of scientist Stephen Hawking in a Google Doodle for what would have been his 80th birthday on Jan. 8, 2022.

Google Doodle celebrates the life of cosmologist Stephen Hawking for his 80th birthday

By Elizabeth Howell published

The pioneering work of physicist Stephen Hawking is honored in a Google Doodle today (Jan. 8).

A Black Brant IX sounding rocket carrying the DXL payload launches from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia at midnight EST (0500 GTM) on Jan. 9. The rocket leapt off the pad quickly, soon disappearing from sight.

NASA launches sounding rocket to study space X-rays

By Elizabeth Howell published

A Black Brant IX sounding rocket topped with the DXL experiment launched from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility at midnight EST on Sunday (Jan. 9).

This sky map shows the view from New York City just after sunset on Jan. 7, 2022.

Look up to spot the tricky planet Mercury at its 'greatest elongation' from the sun tonight

By Elizabeth Howell published

The planet Mercury, typically hard to spot for skywatchers, will be at its greatest distance from the sun in our sky Friday (Jan. 7).

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope separates from its Ariane 5 rocket with the bright blue Earth in the background in this view captured after its launch on Dec. 25, 2021.

Why doesn't the James Webb Space Telescope have any cameras onboard?

By Elizabeth Howell published

Engineers must make do with traditional telemetry because of a lot of practical problems.

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope separates from its Ariane 5 rocket with the bright blue Earth in the background in this view captured after its launch on Dec. 25, 2021.

This amazing HD video is the last view we'll ever have of the James Webb Space Telescope

By Elizabeth Howell published

A newly released HD video shows the James Webb Space Telescope flying away from its rocket toward deep space.