Jonathan O'Callaghan
@astrojonny.bsky.social
Freelance space journalist. British Science Journalist of the Year 2024. Words in The New York Times, Scientific American, New Scientist, BBC, WIRED, + more.
Bangkok, Thailand
jdaoca@gmail.com
@astro_jonny on Twitter
https://www.jonathanocallaghan.com/
Bangkok, Thailand
jdaoca@gmail.com
@astro_jonny on Twitter
https://www.jonathanocallaghan.com/
Pinned
A few pics from Bangkok. Bit surreal that we live here now.
Ptolemy in tatters
February 19, 2026 at 8:03 AM
Ptolemy in tatters
February 19, 2026 at 3:27 AM
Reposted by Jonathan O'Callaghan
China out here living in the future. Drone delivery in Shenzhen.
February 18, 2026 at 4:46 AM
China out here living in the future. Drone delivery in Shenzhen.
China out here living in the future. Drone delivery in Shenzhen.
February 18, 2026 at 4:46 AM
China out here living in the future. Drone delivery in Shenzhen.
Hong Kong is such an unbelievable city. Disneyland today!
February 16, 2026 at 1:19 AM
Hong Kong is such an unbelievable city. Disneyland today!
We've spotted gravitational waves from merging black holes - but could some also be coming from dark matter stars?
Fun story this about the hunt for exotic cosmic objects, by me for Horizon Magazine @horizoneu.bsky.social
Enjoy!
projects.research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/en/horizon-m...
Fun story this about the hunt for exotic cosmic objects, by me for Horizon Magazine @horizoneu.bsky.social
Enjoy!
projects.research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/en/horizon-m...
Scientists hunt dark matter ‘stars’ that mimic black holes
In 2019, a strange event was observed in the depths of space. Called GW190521, the event sent out gravitational waves – invisible ripples in the universe – that were picked up on Earth. These waves ap...
projects.research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu
February 13, 2026 at 2:00 AM
We've spotted gravitational waves from merging black holes - but could some also be coming from dark matter stars?
Fun story this about the hunt for exotic cosmic objects, by me for Horizon Magazine @horizoneu.bsky.social
Enjoy!
projects.research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/en/horizon-m...
Fun story this about the hunt for exotic cosmic objects, by me for Horizon Magazine @horizoneu.bsky.social
Enjoy!
projects.research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/en/horizon-m...
Very sad. UK launch not looking so good at the moment.
Scottish rocket firm Orbex set to appoint administrators
Orbex, which employs about 160 people, said it has been unsuccessful in finding funds, a merger or a buyer.
www.bbc.com
February 12, 2026 at 8:00 AM
Very sad. UK launch not looking so good at the moment.
Always nice to discover a Reddit thread about one of your articles with (mostly) positive comments!
www.reddit.com/r/space/comm...
www.reddit.com/r/space/comm...
From the space community on Reddit: Mercury: The planet that shouldn't exist
Explore this post and more from the space community
www.reddit.com
February 12, 2026 at 6:15 AM
Always nice to discover a Reddit thread about one of your articles with (mostly) positive comments!
www.reddit.com/r/space/comm...
www.reddit.com/r/space/comm...
Back in 2017, astronomers watched as a comet drastically slowed its rotation from 26 to 40 hours.
Newly unearthed Hubble observations show it didn’t just slow, but stopped - then started going backwards.
Super fun study this. Story by me in the NYT.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/11/s...
Newly unearthed Hubble observations show it didn’t just slow, but stopped - then started going backwards.
Super fun study this. Story by me in the NYT.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/11/s...
This Comet Stopped Spinning. Then It Started Rotating Backward.
www.nytimes.com
February 12, 2026 at 2:25 AM
Back in 2017, astronomers watched as a comet drastically slowed its rotation from 26 to 40 hours.
Newly unearthed Hubble observations show it didn’t just slow, but stopped - then started going backwards.
Super fun study this. Story by me in the NYT.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/11/s...
Newly unearthed Hubble observations show it didn’t just slow, but stopped - then started going backwards.
Super fun study this. Story by me in the NYT.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/11/s...
I am continuously fascinated that Australia is going to get FOUR total solar eclipses over ten years, from 2028 to 2038.
Never seen anything like it. What quirk of orbital dynamics has made this happen?
Never seen anything like it. What quirk of orbital dynamics has made this happen?
February 11, 2026 at 4:46 AM
I am continuously fascinated that Australia is going to get FOUR total solar eclipses over ten years, from 2028 to 2038.
Never seen anything like it. What quirk of orbital dynamics has made this happen?
Never seen anything like it. What quirk of orbital dynamics has made this happen?
I've got a story in the latest issue of BBC Science Focus that is, somewhat fortuitously timing-wise, all about orbital data centres.
On sale now. Give it a read if you can get a copy!
On sale now. Give it a read if you can get a copy!
February 11, 2026 at 4:25 AM
I've got a story in the latest issue of BBC Science Focus that is, somewhat fortuitously timing-wise, all about orbital data centres.
On sale now. Give it a read if you can get a copy!
On sale now. Give it a read if you can get a copy!
Amazon given approval for 4,500 more satellites - but still unclear what will happen when they miss their deadline to launch half their 3,000 Gen1 Leo constellation this July (which they will).
www.pcmag.com/news/fcc-gre...
www.pcmag.com/news/fcc-gre...
FCC Green-Lights Amazon's Second-Gen Leo Satellite System
Amazon is also asking for an extension on the first-gen Leo system ahead of a July deadline.
www.pcmag.com
February 11, 2026 at 3:56 AM
Amazon given approval for 4,500 more satellites - but still unclear what will happen when they miss their deadline to launch half their 3,000 Gen1 Leo constellation this July (which they will).
www.pcmag.com/news/fcc-gre...
www.pcmag.com/news/fcc-gre...
This is so cool!
Damn, so close to cracking the Australian agricultural sector bubble
Damn, so close to cracking the Australian agricultural sector bubble
February 9, 2026 at 9:47 AM
This is so cool!
Damn, so close to cracking the Australian agricultural sector bubble
Damn, so close to cracking the Australian agricultural sector bubble
This news conference keeps on giving
Reporter: Do any of you have a favorite animal?
Child: My favorite one is a gold snake that can move. It has gold eyes, and it has a super-duper tail…
Reporter: Mr. Mamdani, the second question for you.
Mamdani: Yes. It’s also the golden snake.
Child: My favorite one is a gold snake that can move. It has gold eyes, and it has a super-duper tail…
Reporter: Mr. Mamdani, the second question for you.
Mamdani: Yes. It’s also the golden snake.
February 7, 2026 at 12:58 AM
This news conference keeps on giving
It’s me, chatting about many satellites. Enjoy!
Podcast!
💥Elon Musk's proposal for orbital data centres
💥Kids ODing on melatonin-laced gummies
💥Global pesticide threat is growing
open.spotify.com/episode/0EUy... with @pennysarchet.bsky.social, @astrojonny.bsky.social @mjflepage.bsky.social
💥Elon Musk's proposal for orbital data centres
💥Kids ODing on melatonin-laced gummies
💥Global pesticide threat is growing
open.spotify.com/episode/0EUy... with @pennysarchet.bsky.social, @astrojonny.bsky.social @mjflepage.bsky.social
Spotify – Web Player
open.spotify.com
February 6, 2026 at 3:34 PM
It’s me, chatting about many satellites. Enjoy!
Reposted by Jonathan O'Callaghan
There's exactly one normal man left on planet Earth.
Child at the podium: “A woo woo woo.”
Mamdani: That’s how I felt when we came up with this plan. Together, we will expand the idea of what is possible in our city—and what sounds and noises we can make at a press conference.
Mamdani: That’s how I felt when we came up with this plan. Together, we will expand the idea of what is possible in our city—and what sounds and noises we can make at a press conference.
February 6, 2026 at 5:12 AM
There's exactly one normal man left on planet Earth.
Hotel booking websites are so poorly designed for people travelling with kids.
I just want to be able to search for places where there will be enough beds for 4 of us, without having to book two separate rooms. Why is that so hard to search for!
I just want to be able to search for places where there will be enough beds for 4 of us, without having to book two separate rooms. Why is that so hard to search for!
February 6, 2026 at 4:56 AM
Hotel booking websites are so poorly designed for people travelling with kids.
I just want to be able to search for places where there will be enough beds for 4 of us, without having to book two separate rooms. Why is that so hard to search for!
I just want to be able to search for places where there will be enough beds for 4 of us, without having to book two separate rooms. Why is that so hard to search for!
You can already comment on SpaceX's application for one million satellites
www.pcmag.com/news/fcc-fas...
www.pcmag.com/news/fcc-fas...
FCC Fast-Tracks SpaceX's Plan for 1M Satellites. And It Wants Your Thoughts
Usually, the commission takes weeks or months to respond to a filing, but it kicked off a public comment period for SpaceX's orbital data center plan in just a few days.
www.pcmag.com
February 5, 2026 at 1:13 AM
You can already comment on SpaceX's application for one million satellites
www.pcmag.com/news/fcc-fas...
www.pcmag.com/news/fcc-fas...
Reposted by Jonathan O'Callaghan
SpaceX just applied to launch a million satellites, but why?
The satellites are intended for vast orbital data centres in orbit. But is it a serious proposal, a land grab, a joke – or all of the above?
Story by me in @newscientist.com
www.newscientist.com/article/2514...
The satellites are intended for vast orbital data centres in orbit. But is it a serious proposal, a land grab, a joke – or all of the above?
Story by me in @newscientist.com
www.newscientist.com/article/2514...
Why did SpaceX just apply to launch 1 million satellites?
SpaceX says it wants to deploy an astronomical number of data centres in orbit to supply power for artificial intelligence, but the proposal might not be entirely serious
www.newscientist.com
February 3, 2026 at 2:22 PM
SpaceX just applied to launch a million satellites, but why?
The satellites are intended for vast orbital data centres in orbit. But is it a serious proposal, a land grab, a joke – or all of the above?
Story by me in @newscientist.com
www.newscientist.com/article/2514...
The satellites are intended for vast orbital data centres in orbit. But is it a serious proposal, a land grab, a joke – or all of the above?
Story by me in @newscientist.com
www.newscientist.com/article/2514...
SpaceX just applied to launch a million satellites, but why?
The satellites are intended for vast orbital data centres in orbit. But is it a serious proposal, a land grab, a joke – or all of the above?
Story by me in @newscientist.com
www.newscientist.com/article/2514...
The satellites are intended for vast orbital data centres in orbit. But is it a serious proposal, a land grab, a joke – or all of the above?
Story by me in @newscientist.com
www.newscientist.com/article/2514...
Why did SpaceX just apply to launch 1 million satellites?
SpaceX says it wants to deploy an astronomical number of data centres in orbit to supply power for artificial intelligence, but the proposal might not be entirely serious
www.newscientist.com
February 3, 2026 at 2:22 PM
SpaceX just applied to launch a million satellites, but why?
The satellites are intended for vast orbital data centres in orbit. But is it a serious proposal, a land grab, a joke – or all of the above?
Story by me in @newscientist.com
www.newscientist.com/article/2514...
The satellites are intended for vast orbital data centres in orbit. But is it a serious proposal, a land grab, a joke – or all of the above?
Story by me in @newscientist.com
www.newscientist.com/article/2514...
Can anyone confirm - was the previous largest FCC filing for satellites, before SpaceX's one million satellite application, SpaceX's 2019 Starlink application (30,000 + 12,000)?
February 3, 2026 at 12:19 PM
Can anyone confirm - was the previous largest FCC filing for satellites, before SpaceX's one million satellite application, SpaceX's 2019 Starlink application (30,000 + 12,000)?
Bump on this - looking for an expert specifically on orbital data centres available in the next few hours. If that's you let me know!
Hey space people, I’m looking for experts to comment and provide some insight on SpaceX’s application for a million satellites.
If that’s you drop me a line. Thanks!
jdaoca[at]gmail[dot]com
If that’s you drop me a line. Thanks!
jdaoca[at]gmail[dot]com
February 3, 2026 at 1:58 AM
Bump on this - looking for an expert specifically on orbital data centres available in the next few hours. If that's you let me know!
Hey space people, another request.
I'm looking for experts to talk to this week about in-space manufacturing for a feature I'm writing.
If that's you, or you have people you'd recommend, do let me know. Thanks!
jdaoca[at]gmail[dot]com
I'm looking for experts to talk to this week about in-space manufacturing for a feature I'm writing.
If that's you, or you have people you'd recommend, do let me know. Thanks!
jdaoca[at]gmail[dot]com
February 2, 2026 at 2:04 PM
Hey space people, another request.
I'm looking for experts to talk to this week about in-space manufacturing for a feature I'm writing.
If that's you, or you have people you'd recommend, do let me know. Thanks!
jdaoca[at]gmail[dot]com
I'm looking for experts to talk to this week about in-space manufacturing for a feature I'm writing.
If that's you, or you have people you'd recommend, do let me know. Thanks!
jdaoca[at]gmail[dot]com