Monisha Ravisetti
Monisha Ravisetti is Space.com's Astronomy Editor. She covers black holes, star explosions, gravitational waves, exoplanet discoveries and other enigmas hidden across the fabric of space and time. Previously, she was a science writer at CNET, and before that, reported for The Academic Times. Prior to becoming a writer, she was an immunology researcher at Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York. She graduated from New York University in 2018 with a B.A. in philosophy, physics and chemistry. She spends too much time playing online chess. Her favorite planet is Earth.
Latest articles by Monisha Ravisetti

A satellite's very tiny camera took a very blurry picture of Earth — and it's perfect
By Monisha Ravisetti published
ESA's TRISAT-R satellite has a camera that's only about the size of a coin's edge, yet it managed to capture a view of our entire world.

Seeing NASA's OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample up close at the Smithsonian was surreal
By Monisha Ravisetti published
The museum's curator of meteorites had been dreaming of this moment for two decades.

The Magellanic Clouds must be renamed, astronomers say
By Monisha Ravisetti published
A coalition of over 50 astronomers is calling to rename the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds.

NASA's Lucy spacecraft successfully completes 1st flyby of asteroid 'Dinky'
By Monisha Ravisetti published
NASA's Lucy mission is set to visit several asteroids over 12 years, and the probe just successfully flew by target number one.

How director Nathaniel Kahn brought the James Webb Space Telescope to IMAX with 'Deep Sky'
By Monisha Ravisetti published
With guidance from the telescope's scientists, an actress, a computer animation artist, a composer, and many other experts, 'Deep Sky' aims to reintroduce us to the JWST's lens on our universe.

NASA can't open its OSIRIS-REx asteroid capsule yet, but the outside alone holds more than enough samples
By Monisha Ravisetti published
Scientists have confirmed that OSIRIS-REx brought home at least 70.3 grams of material from asteroid Bennu, surpassing its intended goal of 60 grams.

James Webb Space Telescope spots jet stream on Jupiter stronger than a Category 5 hurricane
By Monisha Ravisetti published
The JWST's perspective on our solar system has offered us the 1st evidence of a superfast Jovian jet stream.

India to launch test flight on Oct. 21 for future Gaganyaan astronaut mission
By Monisha Ravisetti published
Gaganyaan translates to "celestial vehicle" and is a mission to bring Indian astronauts to space.

NASA's Psyche metal asteroid mission will have a big impact on astronomy. Here's how
By Monisha Ravisetti published
NASA's launching a spacecraft toward an intriguing metal asteroid on Oct. 12. Here's what we might find on 16 Psyche.

This Hubble Telescope view of a chalky spiral galaxy is a sight to behold (photo)
By Monisha Ravisetti published
The galaxy NGC 6951 was a star factory 800 million years ago, then it halted operations for 300 million years before cranking stellar bodies out once more.

Hubble Telescope reveals a rare galaxy with a luminous heart (photo)
By Monisha Ravisetti published
A stunning new Hubble Telescope image showcases NGC 612's orange-hued star-forming disk.

This Hubble Telescope galaxy image could help reveal how stars are born (photo)
By Monisha Ravisetti published
If we can understand how stars form, perhaps we can understand how planets do, too.

Pulsar surprises astronomers with record-breaking gamma-rays
By Monisha Ravisetti published
The well-known Vela Pulsar just smashed a record for the highest-energy radiation ever detected from one of these highly magnetized spinning neutron stars.

NASA's Psyche probe will launch to a metal asteroid on Oct. 12 — and scientists are sneaking a peek at the target
By Monisha Ravisetti published
The James Webb Space Telescope and the now-retired SOFIA telescope, impressive as they may be, have hit their limits when it comes to studying Psyche.

'Lightning' on Venus may not be lightning at all, Parker Solar Probe finds
By Monisha Ravisetti published
For years, experts haven't agreed on whether Venus' lightning is truly lightning. New data from NASA's sun-kissing spacecraft may have settled the debate.

The BlueWalker 3 satellite is officially one of the brightest objects in the sky
By Monisha Ravisetti published
Astronomers worry that an impending future of widespread satellite constellations could darken our bridge to the stars.

Time-lapse video shows a supernova's aftermath ballooning into space
By Monisha Ravisetti published
Two decades of Hubble Space Telescope data reveal the stunning threads of a dead star's leftovers.

The artist who sculpted the 4-dimensional fabric of space and time
By Monisha Ravisetti published
Ashley Zelinskie calls herself the scientific artistic translator, taking our understanding of the universe and showing us how to interpret it.

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover reaches perilous ridge on Red Planet after 3 failed attempts
By Monisha Ravisetti published
This spot on Mars has preserved information about ancient landslides and evidence of Red Planet water.

Powerful observatories reveal 5 breathtaking corners of the universe hidden to human eyes (images)
By Monisha Ravisetti published
NASA has highlighted a new set of vibrant cosmic images, each one painted by the observatories that help us see what our eyes cannot.

James Webb Space Telescope deepens major debate over universe's expansion rate
By Monisha Ravisetti published
Scientists still can't nail down the rate at which our universe is expanding. New JWST observations didn't make things any easier.

NASA's Perseverance Mars rover wraps up MOXIE oxygen-making experiment
By Monisha Ravisetti published
The Perseverance rover's MOXIE experiment produced a total of 122 grams of oxygen on Mars. At its most efficient, it generated 12 grams of the life-sustaining element every hour.

Sleeping on the ISS isn't easy. This lamp for astronauts could help
By Monisha Ravisetti published
To assist astronauts with their sleep schedules, scientists developed a lamp synchronized to their circadian rhythms.

James Webb Space Telescope gazes into the Whirlpool galaxy's hypnotic spiral arms (photos)
By Monisha Ravisetti published
A James Webb Space Telescope image of M51 boasts amber hues and reddish streaks, capturing the galaxy's gravitational relationship with a neighboring realm.
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