Beth Johnson 🔭☄️🌋🏳️‍🌈

Planetary Pandemonium is officially live 🚀🐱 In Episode 0, I introduce the show—where planetary science meets science fiction (and yes, cats). If you love space, stories, and the people behind the science, come join me. 🎧 Listen: patreon.com/posts/episode-…

All right. It's time. Coming Monday, April 6 - which is also my 51st birthday - I will be releasing the first episode of my new podcast, Planetary Pandemonium. It will be a short interview with myself! Follow me on Patreon (for free) for the notification. Stay curious! 🐈‍⬛🪐

I didn't know this... but now I do!

Hi, y'all! I'm finally ready to announce... my new podcast, Planetary Pandemonium, is coming soon. We'll meet at the intersection of space science and science fiction. There will be cats. Check out my Patreon for more info! patreon.com/posts/welcome-…

Oh, hey, that's me! People keep asking me about SETI@home, and today, I will have some answers. But #notaliens. Yet. Come watch and bring your questions!

A second line for an icon. #RIPClaude

2026 is shaping up to be a notable year for space science. Long-planned missions are entering active phases, new approaches to lunar and deep-space explorations are taking form, and observational capabilities are becoming increasingly interconnected. Together, these developments reflect a shift towards time-sensitive, coordinated science across the solar system and beyond. In a recent SETI Live conversation, @planetarypan and @allplanets discussed the missions, milestones, and observations that define space science in 2026. Their discussion placed individual missions within a broader scientific framework focused on planetary systems, cosmic environments, and humanity’s place in the universe. Learn more: seti.org/news/what-to-e…

This week's #SETILive looked at what is coming up in space science and exploration this year. First up is the Artemis II mission, which will take 10 days, 4 astronauts, and a trip around the Moon. Watch the full discussion: youtube.com/live/3AK28FH1b…

Comet 3I/ATLAS passed through the inner solar system on a one-time trajectory, entering a brief but consequential observational gap. During this interval, the object moved behind the Sun from Earth’s perspective, placing it beyond the reach of ground-based observatories and space telescopes in Earth orbit. At the same time, @NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft occupied a vantage point that allowed it to observe what no Earth-based instrument could. Although designed to investigate Jupiter’s icy moon Europa, Europa Clipper used its ultraviolet spectrograph to collect rare compositional data from the interstellar comet while it remained hidden from view. In a recent #SETILive discussion, @planetarypan and @PlanetCynthia discussed how an instrument built for a very different target was rapidly repurposed to study one of the rarest objects ever detected in the solar system. Learn more: seti.org/news/3iatlas-c…

It’s that time of year, and for the first time in over a decade, I am in person at #AAS247! Excited to be here. Want me to check out your work? Let me know. I’m looking for stories and podcast guests.

In a recent SETI Live discussion, communication specialist @planetarypan spoke with astronomer and entrepreneur @allplanets, CEO of @skymapperspace and Senior Planetary Astronomer at the SETI Institute. The conversation introduced SkyMapper, a global network of smart telescopes and all-sky sensors designed to expand access to astronomical observations. The platform connects professional observatories, citizen astronomers, and classrooms into a single decentralized system that supports real scientific discovery. SkyMapper integrates global imaging systems, AI-driven processing, and Web3 technology. The network monitors satellites, meteors, comets, and transient astronomical events in real time. It also allows users to request observations, upload data, and participate directly in modern astronomy. Learn more: seti.org/news/skymapper…

Next #SETILive: 3I/ATLAS: Caught in UV TODAY, 19 December, 2:30 pm PST / 5:30 pm EST We’re going live with @PlanetCynthia, Europa Clipper Project Staff Scientist and Science Communications Lead, from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, to explore a surprising and exciting new chapter in comet science. Recently, the Ultraviolet Spectrograph (UVS) aboard NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft made unique observations of the interstellar #comet3I/ATLAS at a time when Earth- and Mars-based telescopes couldn’t see it. In this livestream, communications specialist @planetarypan and Dr. Phillips will unpack what these observations mean for our understanding of interstellar visitors and how instruments designed for one mission can yield discoveries well beyond their original goals. WATCH LIVE: youtube.com/live/cXqwsc2TI…

Astronomy has a long memory. Six years after it left the telescope, the Gemini Planet Imager @PlanetImager just revealed a new exoplanet — hidden in plain sight in old data. A reminder that archives still hold discoveries waiting for the right tools and questions. 🔗 news.northwestern.edu/stories/2025/1…

@tk408 @SanJoseSharks You did awesome. You're my fave anthem singer!

Became an emergency back up singer for the @SanJoseSharks. Performed O' Canada and Star Spangled Banner. That was the fastest I have ever driven to the game, ran inside and got to the box with 2 minutes to spare. I love this season! Plus we got the W! And tacos! #anthemsinger

The Grand Canyon seen by timelapse from Earth and space! Above, the ISS orbits the lights of the American West and the canyon's dark patch. Below, a 6 minute exposure reveals our path from Earth's perspective. Made in collaboration with National Geographic's @BabakTafreshi.

I freaking adore goalie head taps.

@Sheng_Peng And with this score, I hope he regrets it

Crowd booing Sergachev like he's Evander Kane 😆 Sergachev didn't shake SJ Sharkies's hand after the ceremonial faceoff honoring the Mascot Hall of Famer

On our latest #SETILive #podcast, @planetarypan asked Dr. Eric Boyd to explain what it means when he says a microbe breathes in two ways. Listen to the full episode at feeds.libsyn.com/462636/rss

Where Water Boils the Sky: Steam Worlds and the Search for Life In a recent #SETILive episode, host @planetarypan spoke with @ucsc postdoctoral researcher @ArtyomAguichine about his work modeling the interiors and atmospheres of steam worlds, a class of water-rich exoplanets wrapped in thick, high-temperature water vapor. Thanks to new spectra from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), these once-theoretical worlds are rapidly becoming an observational reality. Learn more: seti.org/news/where-wat…

#ICYMI: This week on #SETILive, Beth chatted with planetary scientists Dr. Georgina Miles and Dr. Carly Howett about the discovery that the subsurface ocean beneath the surface of Saturn's icy moon #Enceladus has been stable... but what does that mean for the possibility of life? It's all about time! Watch the full interview: youtube.com/live/fDf0VQ_S-… #planetaryscience #space #science