Megan Watzke
@mwatzke.bsky.social
I write about science, particularly space and space-related topics. I've written some books already out there and another is on the way. https://www.arcandwatzke.com/
Reposted by Megan Watzke
Almost to 200 signatures!! Way to go! Keep signing and sharing. I am doing a lot of groundwork to see this change through. I just need to let the people I am speaking with know that YOU care about this, too!
Most science degrees never require students to learn how to communicate their work to the public. That gap fuels confusion, mistrust, and missed opportunities to protect lives. Let's change it. Sign the petition to make communication + public engagement training a degree requirement. bit.ly/3LbnfHB
November 7, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Almost to 200 signatures!! Way to go! Keep signing and sharing. I am doing a lot of groundwork to see this change through. I just need to let the people I am speaking with know that YOU care about this, too!
Reposted by Megan Watzke
Gael Gomez and his family are all but certain to leave the country this week, upending the lives they’ve built in D.C.
But Mount Pleasant's 19-year-old sidewalk astronomer wants people to keep looking up — at the sky and in life.
@samdelgado.bsky.social reports:
But Mount Pleasant's 19-year-old sidewalk astronomer wants people to keep looking up — at the sky and in life.
@samdelgado.bsky.social reports:
Mount Pleasant’s sidewalk astronomer might have to leave his home
But Gael Gomez wants people to keep looking up — at the sky and in life.
51st.news
November 4, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Gael Gomez and his family are all but certain to leave the country this week, upending the lives they’ve built in D.C.
But Mount Pleasant's 19-year-old sidewalk astronomer wants people to keep looking up — at the sky and in life.
@samdelgado.bsky.social reports:
But Mount Pleasant's 19-year-old sidewalk astronomer wants people to keep looking up — at the sky and in life.
@samdelgado.bsky.social reports:
Reposted by Megan Watzke
Open Sesame!
The ELT doors have moved for the first time. This was no small feat, as each door will weigh 650 tonnes once completed.
The ELT dome & its doors will guard the telescope from the harsh conditions of the Atacama Desert.
https://www.eso.org/public/videos/potw2544a/
🔭 🧪
📹 ESO/ACe
The ELT doors have moved for the first time. This was no small feat, as each door will weigh 650 tonnes once completed.
The ELT dome & its doors will guard the telescope from the harsh conditions of the Atacama Desert.
https://www.eso.org/public/videos/potw2544a/
🔭 🧪
📹 ESO/ACe
November 3, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Open Sesame!
The ELT doors have moved for the first time. This was no small feat, as each door will weigh 650 tonnes once completed.
The ELT dome & its doors will guard the telescope from the harsh conditions of the Atacama Desert.
https://www.eso.org/public/videos/potw2544a/
🔭 🧪
📹 ESO/ACe
The ELT doors have moved for the first time. This was no small feat, as each door will weigh 650 tonnes once completed.
The ELT dome & its doors will guard the telescope from the harsh conditions of the Atacama Desert.
https://www.eso.org/public/videos/potw2544a/
🔭 🧪
📹 ESO/ACe
Reposted by Megan Watzke
I have been looking forward to this stream with @mwatzke.bsky.social for months!
Please come. It's going to be glorious, awesome, and creepy - just like our Universe.
Please come. It's going to be glorious, awesome, and creepy - just like our Universe.
Spooky season is upon us!
In tomorrow's CosmoQuest After Hours, we welcome on author & science communicator @mwatzke.bsky.social to talk about the Spooky Images telescopes capture of our actual skies. Tune in for paradolia, science, & more at 2pm E / 11am P / 4pm UTC
youtube.com/live/nrieMNg...
In tomorrow's CosmoQuest After Hours, we welcome on author & science communicator @mwatzke.bsky.social to talk about the Spooky Images telescopes capture of our actual skies. Tune in for paradolia, science, & more at 2pm E / 11am P / 4pm UTC
youtube.com/live/nrieMNg...
Spooky Images with Megan Watzke
YouTube video by CosmoQuest
youtube.com
October 31, 2025 at 4:24 PM
I have been looking forward to this stream with @mwatzke.bsky.social for months!
Please come. It's going to be glorious, awesome, and creepy - just like our Universe.
Please come. It's going to be glorious, awesome, and creepy - just like our Universe.
Just in time for Halloween, here's the trailer for our new book that goes on sale this February from @sourcebooks.bsky.social! @kimberlykowal.bsky.social
October 30, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Just in time for Halloween, here's the trailer for our new book that goes on sale this February from @sourcebooks.bsky.social! @kimberlykowal.bsky.social
Reposted by Megan Watzke
Spooky season is upon us!
In tomorrow's CosmoQuest After Hours, we welcome on author & science communicator @mwatzke.bsky.social to talk about the Spooky Images telescopes capture of our actual skies. Tune in for paradolia, science, & more at 2pm E / 11am P / 4pm UTC
youtube.com/live/nrieMNg...
In tomorrow's CosmoQuest After Hours, we welcome on author & science communicator @mwatzke.bsky.social to talk about the Spooky Images telescopes capture of our actual skies. Tune in for paradolia, science, & more at 2pm E / 11am P / 4pm UTC
youtube.com/live/nrieMNg...
Spooky Images with Megan Watzke
YouTube video by CosmoQuest
youtube.com
October 30, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Spooky season is upon us!
In tomorrow's CosmoQuest After Hours, we welcome on author & science communicator @mwatzke.bsky.social to talk about the Spooky Images telescopes capture of our actual skies. Tune in for paradolia, science, & more at 2pm E / 11am P / 4pm UTC
youtube.com/live/nrieMNg...
In tomorrow's CosmoQuest After Hours, we welcome on author & science communicator @mwatzke.bsky.social to talk about the Spooky Images telescopes capture of our actual skies. Tune in for paradolia, science, & more at 2pm E / 11am P / 4pm UTC
youtube.com/live/nrieMNg...
Reposted by Megan Watzke
I love this.
If you live anywhere in the dark blue areas, you are closer to outer space (defined by the Kármán line) than you are to the nearest seashore. 🧪
If you live anywhere in the dark blue areas, you are closer to outer space (defined by the Kármán line) than you are to the nearest seashore. 🧪
Space is a lot closer than most people realise
by u/Many-Excitement3246
by u/Many-Excitement3246
October 29, 2025 at 3:37 PM
I love this.
If you live anywhere in the dark blue areas, you are closer to outer space (defined by the Kármán line) than you are to the nearest seashore. 🧪
If you live anywhere in the dark blue areas, you are closer to outer space (defined by the Kármán line) than you are to the nearest seashore. 🧪
Reposted by Megan Watzke
And here's the other event ....
This is a really simple, visual and effective way to share science with broader audiences ... go follow @astronerdika.bsky.social for more!
🔭🧪
This is a really simple, visual and effective way to share science with broader audiences ... go follow @astronerdika.bsky.social for more!
🔭🧪
October 28, 2025 at 10:53 PM
And here's the other event ....
This is a really simple, visual and effective way to share science with broader audiences ... go follow @astronerdika.bsky.social for more!
🔭🧪
This is a really simple, visual and effective way to share science with broader audiences ... go follow @astronerdika.bsky.social for more!
🔭🧪
Reposted by Megan Watzke
Y'all .... are you following @astronerdika.bsky.social ?
Brilliant scientists, but also - fantastic science visualisations, infographics and art.
Like I am totally biased (Shanika is a @spaceaustralia.com #SpaceFam!) but .... these are so good.
Check out the new @ligo.org results by her!
🔭🧪
Brilliant scientists, but also - fantastic science visualisations, infographics and art.
Like I am totally biased (Shanika is a @spaceaustralia.com #SpaceFam!) but .... these are so good.
Check out the new @ligo.org results by her!
🔭🧪
October 28, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Y'all .... are you following @astronerdika.bsky.social ?
Brilliant scientists, but also - fantastic science visualisations, infographics and art.
Like I am totally biased (Shanika is a @spaceaustralia.com #SpaceFam!) but .... these are so good.
Check out the new @ligo.org results by her!
🔭🧪
Brilliant scientists, but also - fantastic science visualisations, infographics and art.
Like I am totally biased (Shanika is a @spaceaustralia.com #SpaceFam!) but .... these are so good.
Check out the new @ligo.org results by her!
🔭🧪
She’s brilliant for so many reasons but add this to the list.
This.
"I DON'T NEED YOU TO FUCKING REWRITE WHAT I'VE JUST WRITTEN!"
October 28, 2025 at 11:00 PM
She’s brilliant for so many reasons but add this to the list.
Reposted by Megan Watzke
US PhD admissions shrink as fears over Trump’s cuts take hold. [In some cases, to zero.] Story by @alexwitze.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/d41...
US PhD admissions shrink as fears over Trump’s cuts take hold
Some doctoral programmes are admitting no students at all amid uncertainty about federal science funding.
www.nature.com
October 22, 2025 at 4:49 PM
US PhD admissions shrink as fears over Trump’s cuts take hold. [In some cases, to zero.] Story by @alexwitze.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/d41...
The latest issue (and cover!) of @natastron.nature.com features the Chandra X-ray Observatory and its quarter century+ of transforming our understanding of the Universe. www.nature.com/natastron/vo...
October 21, 2025 at 3:37 PM
The latest issue (and cover!) of @natastron.nature.com features the Chandra X-ray Observatory and its quarter century+ of transforming our understanding of the Universe. www.nature.com/natastron/vo...
💯
If anyone needs me I will be in the museum, lying down next to the bog bodies.
October 13, 2025 at 7:29 PM
💯
Reposted by Megan Watzke
Oooh the Nobel Prize is out today, so it's time for my yearly round of ignoring that news and reading about many of the women who were snubbed of the prize in the past and who the Nobel Prize committee refuses to apologise for. 🧪🔭
October 7, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Oooh the Nobel Prize is out today, so it's time for my yearly round of ignoring that news and reading about many of the women who were snubbed of the prize in the past and who the Nobel Prize committee refuses to apologise for. 🧪🔭
I may need to watch this daily.
Wow. Take courage from this message
Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.
October 5, 2025 at 2:58 PM
I may need to watch this daily.
Reposted by Megan Watzke
“It actually doesn’t take much to be considered a difficult woman. That’s why there are so many of us.”
― Jane Goodall
💙 RIP to a real one. My childhood hero
― Jane Goodall
💙 RIP to a real one. My childhood hero
October 2, 2025 at 2:56 AM
“It actually doesn’t take much to be considered a difficult woman. That’s why there are so many of us.”
― Jane Goodall
💙 RIP to a real one. My childhood hero
― Jane Goodall
💙 RIP to a real one. My childhood hero
Reposted by Megan Watzke
Did you know there's a limit to how fast a black hole can feed? And that some break that limit? Here's one that does it by a *lot*.
badastronomy.beehiiv.com/p/a-black-ho...
[Paid subscribers only today]
🧪🔭
badastronomy.beehiiv.com/p/a-black-ho...
[Paid subscribers only today]
🧪🔭
A black hole is eating way above its weight, and ancient tektites in Australia
Something is helping this black hole gobble down material at incredible rates
badastronomy.beehiiv.com
September 25, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Did you know there's a limit to how fast a black hole can feed? And that some break that limit? Here's one that does it by a *lot*.
badastronomy.beehiiv.com/p/a-black-ho...
[Paid subscribers only today]
🧪🔭
badastronomy.beehiiv.com/p/a-black-ho...
[Paid subscribers only today]
🧪🔭
I feel badly for the squid but this is fascinating.
Our oceans are so mysterious and cool (as long as we humans don't ruin them.)
Our oceans are so mysterious and cool (as long as we humans don't ruin them.)
I get that the news cycle is packed right now, but I just heard from a colleague at the Smithsonian that this is fully a GIANT SQUID BEING EATEN BY A SPERM WHALE and it’s possibly the first ever confirmed video according to a friend at NOAA
10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
September 25, 2025 at 1:48 PM
I feel badly for the squid but this is fascinating.
Our oceans are so mysterious and cool (as long as we humans don't ruin them.)
Our oceans are so mysterious and cool (as long as we humans don't ruin them.)
New blog post by Luca Ighina about a black hole doing its thing in the very early Universe. Tied to latest press release from Chandra. chandra.si.edu/blog/node/934
Chandra Reveals an Extremely Fast Accreting Black Hole in the Early Universe | Chandra Blog | Fresh Chandra News
chandra.si.edu
September 22, 2025 at 2:04 PM
New blog post by Luca Ighina about a black hole doing its thing in the very early Universe. Tied to latest press release from Chandra. chandra.si.edu/blog/node/934
Reposted by Megan Watzke
So we asked the universe where the dark matter is, and it said, "Here. Right here."
www.scientificamerican.com/article/nasa...
🔭🧪
www.scientificamerican.com/article/nasa...
🔭🧪
Want to See Dark Matter? Start with the Bullet Cluster
A swarm of galaxies called the Bullet Cluster is the biggest, best natural laboratory for studying dark matter that astronomers have ever seen
www.scientificamerican.com
September 12, 2025 at 3:43 PM
So we asked the universe where the dark matter is, and it said, "Here. Right here."
www.scientificamerican.com/article/nasa...
🔭🧪
www.scientificamerican.com/article/nasa...
🔭🧪
Congrats to my colleague, co-author and friend @kimberlykowal.bsky.social for winning the 2025 Klumpke-Roberts Award from the @astrosociety.org for those "who have made outstanding contributions to the public understanding and appreciation of astronomy."
chandra.si.edu/press/25_rel...
chandra.si.edu/press/25_rel...
Chandra Press Room :: 2025 Klumpke-Roberts Award is given to Dr. Kimberly Arcand :: 10 September 2025
chandra.si.edu
September 10, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Congrats to my colleague, co-author and friend @kimberlykowal.bsky.social for winning the 2025 Klumpke-Roberts Award from the @astrosociety.org for those "who have made outstanding contributions to the public understanding and appreciation of astronomy."
chandra.si.edu/press/25_rel...
chandra.si.edu/press/25_rel...
@barnesandnoble.com is running a pre-order sale for our book over the next few days and there's a promo code for 25% off.
It's meant to both gross/scare kids out while giving them some science in the process -- maybe like an astronomy book for Wednesday Addams. ;) @kimberlykowal.bsky.social
It's meant to both gross/scare kids out while giving them some science in the process -- maybe like an astronomy book for Wednesday Addams. ;) @kimberlykowal.bsky.social
September 3, 2025 at 1:30 PM
@barnesandnoble.com is running a pre-order sale for our book over the next few days and there's a promo code for 25% off.
It's meant to both gross/scare kids out while giving them some science in the process -- maybe like an astronomy book for Wednesday Addams. ;) @kimberlykowal.bsky.social
It's meant to both gross/scare kids out while giving them some science in the process -- maybe like an astronomy book for Wednesday Addams. ;) @kimberlykowal.bsky.social
About 26 years ago, the Chandra X-ray Observatory released its "First Light" images. The supernova remnant Cassiopeia A was the highlight. All of these years later, Chandra is still delivering discoveries about this exploded star.
chandra.si.edu/press/25_rel...
chandra.si.edu/press/25_rel...
Chandra Press Room :: NASA's Chandra Reveals Star's Inner Conflict Before Explosion :: 28 August 2025
chandra.si.edu
August 29, 2025 at 2:44 PM
About 26 years ago, the Chandra X-ray Observatory released its "First Light" images. The supernova remnant Cassiopeia A was the highlight. All of these years later, Chandra is still delivering discoveries about this exploded star.
chandra.si.edu/press/25_rel...
chandra.si.edu/press/25_rel...
Reposted by Megan Watzke
How a dead star carved the “Hand of God” in space
So, you've seen the new-and-improved "Hand of God" nebula in space: MSH 15-52.
Now come learn why this "kicked" pulsar produces a wind nebula unlike any other in appearance.
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #astro #physics #pulsar #nebula
So, you've seen the new-and-improved "Hand of God" nebula in space: MSH 15-52.
Now come learn why this "kicked" pulsar produces a wind nebula unlike any other in appearance.
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #astro #physics #pulsar #nebula
How a dead star carved the "Hand of God" in space
In our own Milky Way, a recently deceased star creates a ghostly, hand-like shape in X-rays some 150 light-years wide. Here's how it's made.
bigthink.com
August 25, 2025 at 3:36 PM
There’s a giant hand in space. Ok, not a real hand but instead one made out of energetic particles that glow in X-ray and radio light.
chandra.si.edu/photo/2025/m...
I mean, that mixes up your timeline, does it not?
chandra.si.edu/photo/2025/m...
I mean, that mixes up your timeline, does it not?
August 20, 2025 at 11:59 PM
There’s a giant hand in space. Ok, not a real hand but instead one made out of energetic particles that glow in X-ray and radio light.
chandra.si.edu/photo/2025/m...
I mean, that mixes up your timeline, does it not?
chandra.si.edu/photo/2025/m...
I mean, that mixes up your timeline, does it not?