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Samantha Mathewson
Samantha Mathewson joined Space.com as an intern in the summer of 2016. She received a B.A. in Journalism and Environmental Science at the University of New Haven, in Connecticut. Previously, her work has been published in Nature World News. When not writing or reading about science, Samantha enjoys traveling to new places and taking photos! You can follow her on Twitter @Sam_Ashley13. 

Articles by: Samantha Mathewson

An artist's depiction of two black holes spiraling towards each other, about to collide.

Researchers detect 1st merger between black holes with eccentric orbits

By Samantha Mathewson published

Scientists have for the first time confirmed the merger of two highly eccentric black holes.

Volcanic clouds covering the Pacific Ocean in an image snapped from the International Space Station.

Astronaut spots ash clouds from Tonga volcano eruption from space (photos)

By Samantha Mathewson published

Stunning views of the aftermath of the Tonga volcano eruption have been snapped by astronauts at the International Space Station.

The first full moon of 2022, the full Wolf Moon, will rise over Earth on Jan. 17, 2022. This view shows a full moon as only astronauts on the International Space Station can see.

Full Wolf Moon, the first full moon of 2022, rises tonight

By Samantha Mathewson published

The full Wolf Moon rises tonight (Jan. 17) at 6:48 p.m. EST (1148 GMT), marking the first full moon of the New Year.

An artist's depiction of a hot Jupiter-sized exoplanet, like TOI-2337b, TOI-4329b or TOI-2669b, in orbit around an evolved, dying star.

3 newly discovered worlds risk doom orbiting too close to dying stars

By Samantha Mathewson published

Astronomers have spotted three new exoplanets orbiting dangerously close to their parent stars, on the brink of extinction.

An artist's conception of stellar streams orbiting the Milky Way.

Streams of stars orbiting the Milky Way shed light on galaxy’s dark matter

By Samantha Mathewson published

Stellar groupings orbiting the outskirts of the Milky Way shed new light on the elusive dark matter surrounding our galaxy.

The Hubble Space Telescope launched to Earth orbit in April 1990.

1 billion seconds in space! NASA's Hubble Space Telescope surpasses major milestone

By Samantha Mathewson published

NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has reached a major milestone: one billion seconds in the final frontier.

This new image from ESO's Atacama Pathfinder Experiment (APEX) radio telescope captures the Flame Nebula, which is the large cosmic feature on the left, and its surroundings within the Orion Constellation.

'Orion's Fireplace': Flame Nebula is ablaze with color in stunning new image

By Samantha Mathewson published

Orion's Flame Nebula rings in the New Year in a blazing new photo from the European Southern Observatory (ESO).

SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket will once again take to the skies in 2022.

These are the space missions to watch in 2022

By Samantha Mathewson published

From the debut of new launch vehicles to missions to the moon, mars, asteroids and much more, a lot of exciting missions are expected to launch or arrive at their destination in 2022.

An image of Comet ISON shows a greenish tinge to the head, but not the tail.

Comets' heads may be green, but never their tails, study finds

By Samantha Mathewson published

Comets heat up very quickly as they approach the sun, causing the icy bodies to glow green, but never in the tails trailing behind them. A new study may finally reveal why.

Axiom Space's first private crewed mission to the International Space Station is scheduled to launch on Feb. 28, 2022. From left to right: pilot Larry Connor, mission commander and retired NASA astronaut Michael López-Alegría, mission specialist Mark Pathy and mission specialist Eytan Stibbe.

NASA clears Axiom crew for 1st private mission to International Space Station

By Samantha Mathewson published

The astronauts launching with the first private crewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS) next year have cleared all their medical evaluations.

A chimpanzee named Enos before a flight designed to mimic the mission that made John Glenn the first American to reach orbit.

Celebrating the animal astronauts who paved the way for human spaceflight

By Samantha Mathewson published

The Expedition 66 crew of the International Space Station sent a video message to Earth for Christmas 2021. From left to right: NASA astronauts Mark Vande Hei, Raja Chari and Kayla Barron, ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer and NASA astronaut Thomas Marshburn.

Astronauts on International Space Station send Christmas video message to Earth

By Samantha Mathewson published

Astronauts on the International Space Station shared a festive message for people on Earth as they prepare to spend the holidays in orbit.

Astrophotographer Chris Schur captured this stunning photo of Comet Leonard on Dec. 4, 2021 from Payson, Arizona using a 10-inch Newtonian telescope and 60-minute camera exposure.

Comet Leonard's discoverer explains how the unusual object was found

By Samantha Mathewson published

Discovered nearly a year ago, Comet Leonard is on its final tour of Earth's neighborhood, lighting up the night sky for viewers this holiday season.

A diagram showing the positions of Venus and Comet Leonard in the sky around 5:30 p.m. local time from New York City on Dec. 18, 2021.

Comet Leonard's discoverer shares tips to spot it in the night sky now (before it's gone for good)

By Samantha Mathewson published

The discoverer of Comet Leonard has shared a few tips to help see the bright object in the night sky this month.

A diagram showing the locations of Venus and Comet Leonard at 5:30 p.m. local time from New York City on Dec. 17, 2021.

See the bright Comet Leonard near Venus in the night sky tonight!

By Samantha Mathewson published

Skywatchers will have a chance to see Comet Leonard — the brightest comet of 2021 — near Venus in the evening sky tonight (Dec. 17).

A Planet satellite captured views of Mayfield, Kentucky, where a candle factory owned by Mayfield Consumer Products, LLC was badly hit by a tornado on Dec. 10, 2021.

Satellites see devastating tornado damage in US from space (photos)

By Samantha Mathewson published

Satellites operated by Maxar Technologies and Planet have captured striking views of the damage inflicted by last week's tornados.

The Geminid meteor shower is named after the constellation Gemini, the twins, from which the meteors appear to originate.

The Geminid meteor shower peaks tonight! Here's how to watch online.

By Samantha Mathewson published

The Geminid meteor shower will reach its peak tonight (Dec. 13), and you can watch the annual starry night display live online via NASA's Meteor Watch Facebook page.

A mini-jet extends from the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy.

The Milky Way's supermassive black hole burps 'mini-jets,' scientists find

By Samantha Mathewson published

The supermassive black hole at the center of our Milky Way galaxy periodically hiccups, burping a "mini-jet" out into space.

A recent image of the elliptical galaxy Messier 87 shows a powerful jet with a corkscrew-like helical structure. The jet extends 8,000 light-years from the black hole that lies at the center of the galaxy.

Black hole jet boasts double helix structure molded by powerful magnetic fields

By Samantha Mathewson published

An extraordinary galactic jet ejected from a supermassive black hole boasts a corkscrew-like helical structure, new ground-based telescope views reveal.

This panorama, made up of 81 individual images stitched together, was taken by the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) on Nov. 20, 2021, which was the 3,303rd Martian day, or sol, of the rover's mission.

NASA's Mars Curiosity rover shares new panoramic view of Red Planet

By Samantha Mathewson published

NASA's Curiosity rover snapped a stunning new selfie surrounded by expansive, rocky terrain on Mars.

An artist's depiction of Comet Bernardinelli-Bernstein.

Giant comet was active way farther from the sun than expected, scientists confirm

By Samantha Mathewson published

One of the largest comets ever discovered was active long before scientists had expected, according to NASA's industrious planet-hunting telescope.

The Prawn Nebula (IC 4628) is a massive stellar nursery located about 6,000 light-years from Earth.

Hubble telescope captures stunning image of the star-forming Prawn Nebula

By Samantha Mathewson published

The Hubble Space Telescope has captured a stunning view of the Prawn Nebula floating through deep space.

New images from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope capture stunning views of the outer planets Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, as part of this year's "grand tour" of the solar system.

Hubble telescope's annual 'grand tour' tracks changes in outer solar system

By Samantha Mathewson published

It's time for the solar system's annual weather report!

Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud, DEM L249 is believed to be a remnant of a Type 1a supernova, or the death of a white dwarf star.

Hubble telescope captures cosmic remains of unusual white dwarf supernova

By Samantha Mathewson published

The shredded remains of a stellar explosion glow bright red in a stunning new photo from the Hubble Space Telescope.

An artist's depiction of the DART spacecraft slamming into Dimorphos as observatories on Earth and a small cubesat watch.

NASA wants you to become a planetary defender with the DART asteroid mission

By Samantha Mathewson published

NASA is getting ready to launch a spacecraft to test an experimental method to deflect near-Earth objects, and you can participate in the mission by testing your own planetary defense know-how.