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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

Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope project in Rome, Italy shared this photo of the supermoon rising on Dec. 13, 2016.

'Full Flower Moon': See the last supermoon of 2020 at its best in these webcasts

By Elizabeth Howell

May's full moon is Thursday, May 7, but you can see it at its best tonight!

Saturn's Moon Mimas, death star

'Star Wars': Summary of the franchise and its effect on space technology

By Elizabeth Howell

Lego has released three new "Star Wars" ahead of "Star Wars Day" on May 4, 2020.

These Lego 'Star Wars' helmets are perfect for your Dark Side life

By Elizabeth Howell

It's time to suit up for "Star Wars Day" — that annual May the Fourth (be with you) fan celebration that happens on Monday (May 4). Lego has three new helmet sets to help you get in the mood.

The new Lego Star Wars D-O droid brings the beloved new character to life. The 519-piece set, for ages 10 and up, is small enough for an office but full of fun and character.

Build a 'Star Wars' D-O droid in Lego form for May the Fourth

By Elizabeth Howell

Meet the newest "Star Wars" movie droid — in Lego form.

The Force is strong in these epic new Lego Star Wars sets for 2020!

These Lego 'Star Wars' sets for 2020 are strong with the Force

By Elizabeth Howell

Here's a look at the Lego Star Wars sets for 2020. Build, or build not — there is no try!

The Lego Star Wars UCS A-wing Starfighter, released in 2020, is an iconic ship from "Star Wars Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi."

Lego just launched the ultimate 'Star Wars' A-wing Starfighter for May the Fourth

By Elizabeth Howell

Lego is launching the Ultimate Collector Star Wars A-wing Starfighter today, May 1, just in time for the May the Fourth 2020 fan celebration.

2013 Eta Aquarid Meteor Over Mount Bromo

The Eta Aquarids: A spring meteor shower from Comet Halley

By Elizabeth Howell

The Eta Aquarids can be seen in both hemispheres, but the Southern Hemisphere gets the best view.

Signal Mountain – Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Astrophotographers show off their favorite stargazing sites on Earth

By Elizabeth Howell

If you're looking to go on a virtual adventure, look no further than these astrophotographers' fave sites.

Astrophotographer Miguel Claro took the image from São Miguel Island in the Azores on April 5, 2014.

International Dark Sky Week 2020 starts Sunday — here's how to celebrate online

By Elizabeth Howell

Celebrate International Dark Sky Week from anywhere, with sessions streaming online starting Sunday (April 19).

Lyrid Meteors and the Milky Way Over Hope Valley, California

Lyrid meteor shower: Leftovers of Comet Thatcher

By Elizabeth Howell

The Lyrid meteor shower has been observed for more than 2,700 years.

The Apollo 13 spacecraft as seen seen in a still image from an Analytical Graphics Inc. simulation on what could have happened if the spacecraft did not safely return to Earth in April 1970.

What if Apollo 13 failed to return to Earth? A look back 50 years later

By Elizabeth Howell

NASA bills its Apollo 13 moon mission as a "successful failure," a tale of survival and victory. But what if NASA had failed?

The European Space Agency released this animation of the BepiColombo spacecraft's final view of Earth, captured on April 10 and April 11, 2020.

This stunning crescent Earth is the last view of home from the Mercury-bound BepiColombo

By Elizabeth Howell

The BepiColombo spacecraft headed for Mercury showed off an epic last view of Earth while zooming away from our planet on Friday and Saturday (April 10 and 11).

Apollo 13 astronaut Jim Lovell as seen in the lunar module.

'At least something worked': Watch Apollo 13's crew hail a rocket crash on the moon

By Elizabeth Howell

After piloting a crippled spacecraft around the far side of the moon, the crew of NASA's stricken Apollo 13 received a rare bit of good news on April 14, 1970. It turns out, they'd made a moonquake.

The planetary quartet of Jupiter, Saturn, Mars and the moon will put on a show in mid-April. The three planets won't appear close together in the sky again for a couple of years, so catch them now if you can! The moon will be in conjunction with Jupiter on April 14 at 7:05 p.m. EDT (2305 GMT). It will be in conjunction with Saturn on April 15 at 5:18 a.m. EDT (0918 GMT). Then on April 16 the moon will be in conjunction with Mars at 12:33 a.m. EDT (0433 GMT).

Here's what to see in the night sky while you're stuck at home

By Elizabeth Howell

While everyone is staying safe and doing what they can to cope with the coronavirus pandemic, we at Space.com have a list of astronomy activities you can do from your own backyard or balcony.

President Richard Nixon and the astronauts of Apollo 13, as seen on April 18, the day after the mission returned to Earth. From left are NASA astronauts Fred Haise and Jack Swigert, President Nixon and NASA astronaut Jim Lovell.

Celebrate Apollo 13 at 50 with NASA's 'Home Safe' documentary (and much more!)

By Elizabeth Howell

It was 50 years ago Monday (April 13) that the Apollo 13 crew famously told NASA: "Houston, we've had a problem." You can celebrate the "successful failure" with a NASA documentary and more.

A photo of Fred Haise visiting NASA Langley historic gantry in 2019.

Fred Haise: NASA astronaut and Apollo 13 crewmember

By Elizabeth Howell, Kimberly Hickok

Fred Haise is an ex-NASA astronaut most famous for his role as the lunar module pilot on the nearly-disastrous Apollo 13 mission.

BepiColombo captured its first Earth flyby images on April 9, 2020.

A Mercury probe flies by Earth tonight. Here's how to hitch a VR ride (and maybe see it, too!)

By Elizabeth Howell

The European-Japanese BepiColombo mission will whiz past our planet as the spacecraft continues on its long journey toward Mercury.

blockchain cryptocurrency

How blockchain can change the space industry

By Elizabeth Howell

Jack Swigert

Jack Swigert: Apollo 13 command module pilot

By Elizabeth Howell, Kimberly Hickok

Jack Swigert was an expert pilot and NASA astronaut most famous for his role as command module pilot for Apollo 13.

Holiday Supermoon

What is a supermoon?

By Elizabeth Howell

A statue of warp drive inventor Zefram Cochrane in Star Trek Online. Players can join First Contact Day from April 2-23 2020!

'Star Trek Online' wants you to celebrate First Contact Day with the Borg in new update

By Elizabeth Howell

"Star Trek Online" wants you to help save Zefram Cochrane and First Contact Day in a special event from April 2 to April 23!

An artist's impression of an intermediate-mass black hole tearing apart a wayward star that passed too close.

Hubble's best evidence yet for 'missing link' of black holes may solve 14-year-old space mystery

By Elizabeth Howell

Hubble is tracking down a suspected black hole that shredded a wayward star.

A photograph showing SpaceX's first batch of Starlink satellites during launch on May 23, 2019. With companies like SpaceX launching small satellites over larger ones, will the U.S. military follow suit?

US military may start moving towards launching fleets of tiny satellites

By Elizabeth Howell

With much of the commercial space industry focused on putting small satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO), how quickly will the U.S. military follow?

The Gaia mission recently created a celestial survey of 1 billion stars in the Milky Way. They're spotting gorgeous celestial features like mountain ranges, arches and streams of stars.

Star clusters betray Milky Way's cannibalistic past

By Elizabeth Howell

A recent study went full Indiana Jones to show that our home galaxy, the Milky Way, was a cannibal in its earlier years, swallowing five smaller galaxies.

The crewmembers of the Apollo 13 mission step aboard the USS Iwo Jima, after splashdown and recovery operations in the South Pacific Ocean on April 17, 1970. Exiting the helicopter from left to right are Fred Haise, James Lovell and John Swigert.

Apollo 13: The moon-mission that dodged disaster

By Elizabeth Howell, Kimberly Hickok

The Apollo 13 mission was an example of NASA's ingenuity under pressure.