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.
Latest articles by Samantha Mathewson
The Geminid meteor shower peaks tonight! Here's how to watch online.
By Samantha Mathewson last updated
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.
The 2021 Orionid meteor shower peaks tonight! Here's what to expect.
By Samantha Mathewson last updated
The annual Orionid meteor shower will reach its peak today (Oct. 20), but could have some competition with the full Hunter's Moon set to rise tonight, too.
NASA wants you to become a planetary defender with the DART asteroid mission
By Samantha Mathewson last updated
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.
See the conjunction of the moon and Mars tonight (Sept. 16)
By Samantha Mathewson published
Mars and the moon will make a close approach to each other in the sky tonight (Sept. 16), and here's what you can expect to see.
This spiral galaxy photo from the Hubble Space Telescope is just spectacular
By Samantha Mathewson published
An intermediate spiral galaxy called NGC 1961 was photographed by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, revealing gorgeous spiral arms and glittering, blue regions of bright young stars.
Hubble Space Telescope captures two 'overlapping' spiral galaxies in new photo
By Samantha Mathewson last updated
A new photo from the Hubble Space Telescope captures two distant "overlapping" spiral galaxies.
Dazzling imagery of supernova remnant holds clues about star's death (video)
By Samantha Mathewson published
Using data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, Hubble Space Telescope and recently retired Spitzer Space telescope, astronomers traced the timeline of a supernova explosion called SNR 0519.
Saturn and a bright moon share the sky Wednesday (Sept. 7)
By Samantha Mathewson published
The waxing gibbous moon will pass near Saturn on Sept. 7 and 8. Meanwhile, the moon reaches perigee or its closest point along its orbit to the Earth.
Catch Mars near the bright star Aldebaran Tuesday night (Sept. 6)
By Samantha Mathewson last updated
Mars appears closest to the bright star Aldebaran of the Taurus constellation Tuesday (Sept. 6). The pair will be visible high in the south before sunrise.
Catch the moon near the claws of the Scorpius constellation Friday
By Samantha Mathewson published
See the moon shine near the claws of the Scorpius constellation just after dusk tonight (Sept. 2).
Hubble Space Telescope captures stunning photo of a galaxy with a strange shape
By Samantha Mathewson published
A new photo from the Hubble Space Telescope captures a dwarf irregular galaxy called NGC 1156, which boasts a unique structure unlike most other galaxies.
See the Summer Triangle asterism after dusk Wednedsay (Aug. 31)
By Samantha Mathewson published
The Summer Triangle asterism consists of three bright, white stars: Vega, Altair and Deneb. Starting just after dusk, these three stars will be visible high overhead all night.
Watch the young moon rise above Mercury tonight
By Samantha Mathewson published
See the young moon over Mercury in the evening sky just after sunset tonight (Aug. 29).
See the old moon and Venus conjunction tonight
By Samantha Mathewson published
A close encounter, or conjunction, between August's waning crescent moon and Venus occurs tonight when the two objects share the same right ascension.
Uranus will reverse its path in the sky on Wednesday (Aug 24). Here's how to see it
By Samantha Mathewson published
Uranus will reverse its eastward movement Wednesday (Aug. 24) and begin its westward path across the night sky.
The universe's most massive star may be smaller than we thought
By Samantha Mathewson last updated
The most massive known star in the universe has been photographed in the greatest detail to date and it might be smaller than astronomers previously thought.
Hubble Space Telescope photo shows star-studded globular cluster near Milky Way's core
By Samantha Mathewson published
A new image from the Hubble Space Telescope captures a star-studded cluster in the constellation Sagittarius.
See the moon hop over Uranus in the night sky on Aug. 18
By Samantha Mathewson last updated
Watch the moon as it appears to "hop" over Uranus in the afternoon sky tomorrow (Aug. 18).
Perseid meteor shower peaking now, but bright moon will get in the way
By Samantha Mathewson last updated
The Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak overnight on Aug. 12 and 13, unfortunately coinciding with this month’s full Sturgeon Moon.
Perseid meteor shower 2022 webcast: Watch the 'shooting stars' live online tonight!
By Samantha Mathewson last updated
The annual Perseid meteor shower is approaching its peak, and you can enjoy the event live online.
Starburst galaxy shines in new 'whirlpool of gold' photo
By Samantha Mathewson published
A mesmerizing new photo captures bright, golden swirling clouds of gas that generate an exceptionally high rate of star formation.
Perseid meteor shower peaks this week, but don't expect much
By Samantha Mathewson last updated
The peak of the annual Perseid meteor shower shares the sky with August's full moon this week, meaning it will be difficult to view the iconic shooting stars.
August's full moon likely to outshine Perseid meteor shower this year, NASA astronomer says
By Samantha Mathewson last updated
The Perseid meteor shower, one of the most anticipated and popular night-sky shows of the year, is likely to be upstaged by August’s full moon.