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/
Our new book, "Why Space Will Freak You Out: The Strangest, Scariest Parts of the Universe," goes on sale today (published by @sourcebooks.bsky.social). Learn more about it at www.arcandwatzke.com
February 10, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Our new book, "Why Space Will Freak You Out: The Strangest, Scariest Parts of the Universe," goes on sale today (published by @sourcebooks.bsky.social). Learn more about it at www.arcandwatzke.com
Reposted by Megan Watzke
No joke: I got angry hate mail today for writing an obituary of a Black woman scientist—because the person felt she did didn’t deserve the recognition.
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Gladys Mae West obituary: mathematician who pioneered GPS technology
She made key contributions to US cold-war science despite facing huge barriers as a Black woman.
www.nature.com
February 6, 2026 at 9:09 AM
No joke: I got angry hate mail today for writing an obituary of a Black woman scientist—because the person felt she did didn’t deserve the recognition.
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
The Winter Olympics start this week and you can step into Italy and out into space through our AstrOlympics project. Compare the amazing feats of the athletes with the spectacular phenomena across the cosmos.
chandra.si.edu/astrolympics...
chandra.si.edu/astrolympics...
February 4, 2026 at 3:19 PM
The Winter Olympics start this week and you can step into Italy and out into space through our AstrOlympics project. Compare the amazing feats of the athletes with the spectacular phenomena across the cosmos.
chandra.si.edu/astrolympics...
chandra.si.edu/astrolympics...
It moves! We can watch as the Kepler supernova remnant changes over a quarter of century in X-rays from Chandra. #aas247
chandra.si.edu/photo/2026/k...
chandra.si.edu/photo/2026/k...
January 6, 2026 at 9:23 PM
It moves! We can watch as the Kepler supernova remnant changes over a quarter of century in X-rays from Chandra. #aas247
chandra.si.edu/photo/2026/k...
chandra.si.edu/photo/2026/k...
This.
Mom Wants To Know If You Could Use Grandma’s Antique, 12-Person Dining Room Table In Your Studio Apartment https://theonion.com/mom-wants-to-know-if-you-could-use-grandma-s-antique-1-1831765783/
January 1, 2026 at 9:37 PM
This.
"The purchase was a gift, but also a way to protest the 'insatiable greed' behind the homelessness crisis in the U.S. Communities should not have to rely on the whims of wealthy people to have their essential needs met." -- Rick Steves.
www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
Rick Steves buys ‘the most beautiful Christmas present’ for homeless neighbors
Five years after the Lynnwood Hygiene Center opened, serving hundreds in poverty, the landlord planned to sell. Steves stepped in to buy it.
www.seattletimes.com
December 24, 2025 at 4:34 PM
"The purchase was a gift, but also a way to protest the 'insatiable greed' behind the homelessness crisis in the U.S. Communities should not have to rely on the whims of wealthy people to have their essential needs met." -- Rick Steves.
www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
I met him early in my career in the Press Office at AAS meetings. He was kind and encouraging for a 20-something with little experience like me. I miss the days when the NYT (and others) regularly had long-form sci journalism. I think it benefited all of us.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/08/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/08/s...
John Noble Wilford, Times Reporter Who Covered the Moon Landing, Dies at 92
www.nytimes.com
December 9, 2025 at 2:38 PM
I met him early in my career in the Press Office at AAS meetings. He was kind and encouraging for a 20-something with little experience like me. I miss the days when the NYT (and others) regularly had long-form sci journalism. I think it benefited all of us.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/08/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/08/s...
Reposted by Megan Watzke
everyone who spent the 90s laboriously and lovingly making mixtapes just dissolved into ancient dust
November 21, 2025 at 8:42 PM
everyone who spent the 90s laboriously and lovingly making mixtapes just dissolved into ancient dust
Always grateful to Eileen and the rest of the STS-93 for launching Chandra (and everything else they did for spaceflight and science).
NASA astronaut Eileen Collins was born #OTD in 1956. She was the first woman to pilot the space shuttle (in 1995) and the first woman to command a shuttle mission (in 1999). 🧪 👩🔬
November 19, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Always grateful to Eileen and the rest of the STS-93 for launching Chandra (and everything else they did for spaceflight and science).
Reposted by Megan Watzke
After much deliberation and a grueling interview process, I’m pleased to announce that I’ve accepted a new job and will not need any financial support from my parents to cover the high costs of childcare going forward. #AmericanDream #ThisIsYourCity
November 18, 2025 at 4:38 PM
After much deliberation and a grueling interview process, I’m pleased to announce that I’ve accepted a new job and will not need any financial support from my parents to cover the high costs of childcare going forward. #AmericanDream #ThisIsYourCity
This is such a great write up. I need to find out more about her ...
Have you ever heard of Betty Webster? I hadn't until recently, and she co-discovered the first black hole ever found! Here's her story, to honor her memory and fantastic accomplishment.
badastronomy.beehiiv.com/p/the-woman-...
🔭 🧪
badastronomy.beehiiv.com/p/the-woman-...
🔭 🧪
The woman who discovered the first black hole
Betty Webster is a name to remember. Also: more rogue binary jovians
badastronomy.beehiiv.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:53 PM
This is such a great write up. I need to find out more about her ...
Reposted by Megan Watzke
So Harvard is keeping this guy, but Claudine Gay had to step down over ginned up plagiarism accusations and bad-faith accusations of anti-Semitism.
Got it.
Got it.
Larry Summers tells @theharvardcrimson.bsky.social
he’s stepping back from all public commitments in light of his messages with Epstein, saying he is “deeply ashamed” and hopes “to rebuild trust and repair relationships.”
He will continue teaching.
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
he’s stepping back from all public commitments in light of his messages with Epstein, saying he is “deeply ashamed” and hopes “to rebuild trust and repair relationships.”
He will continue teaching.
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
November 18, 2025 at 5:10 AM
So Harvard is keeping this guy, but Claudine Gay had to step down over ginned up plagiarism accusations and bad-faith accusations of anti-Semitism.
Got it.
Got it.
Reposted by Megan Watzke
"There are about a thousand of us."
Yes, because the thing about girls is that they don't stay girls for very long. Which makes them disposable. And which means that men like Epstein need a huge supply.
Yes, because the thing about girls is that they don't stay girls for very long. Which makes them disposable. And which means that men like Epstein need a huge supply.
NEW: Epstein survivors release the most powerful PSA I have ever seen.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
November 17, 2025 at 12:42 AM
"There are about a thousand of us."
Yes, because the thing about girls is that they don't stay girls for very long. Which makes them disposable. And which means that men like Epstein need a huge supply.
Yes, because the thing about girls is that they don't stay girls for very long. Which makes them disposable. And which means that men like Epstein need a huge supply.
New Chandra blog on the hunt for Betelgeuse's buddy (companion star). Written by Anna O'Grady and Brendan O'Connor, astronomers from @cmu.edu. chandra.si.edu/blog/node/935
November 13, 2025 at 9:08 PM
New Chandra blog on the hunt for Betelgeuse's buddy (companion star). Written by Anna O'Grady and Brendan O'Connor, astronomers from @cmu.edu. chandra.si.edu/blog/node/935
Reposted by Megan Watzke
Katie Wilson has been elected Seattle's next mayor
www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
Katie Wilson elected Seattle’s next mayor
Wilson took a 1,976-vote lead over Bruce Harrell. With a maximum of 1,320 ballots remaining, it is mathematically impossible for Harrell to catch up.
www.seattletimes.com
November 12, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Katie Wilson has been elected Seattle's next mayor
www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
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!
🔭🧪