Jonathan C. McDowell

Jonathan McDowell's Personal Home Page

I'm an astrophysicist and space sustainability analyst. I write about the history of the space program and issue an email-distributed newsletter, Jonathan's Space Report .

From 1988 to 2026 I worked at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics; from 1994 to 2026 I was part of the Chandra X-Ray Center, which operates the Chandra X-ray Observatory spacecraft.

I am now retired, living near London, and an honorary professor at Durham University.

You can contact me at planet4589@gmail.com


From 1993 to 2010 I wrote a monthly column for Sky and Telescope Magazine which I still recommend as a great source of astronomy info. I've also appeared on TV around the world pontificating on the latest goings-on in space and have now ventured into the podcastosphere. You can see me chat with Neil Tyson at the WGBH Forum, and some TV here, and on some CfA items

Publication List

Space News and Space History

Astrophysics

Other interests

Eponymous minor planet: (4589) McDowell


Informal Bio

home video of Kennedy Space Center during STS-93 launch

Links