Miriam Kramer

Social Links Navigation

Miriam Kramer joined Space.com as a staff writer in December 2012. Since then, she has floated in weightlessness on a zero-gravity flight, felt the pull of 4-Gs in a trainer aircraft and watched rockets soar into space from Florida and Virginia. She also serves as Space.com's lead space entertainment reporter, and enjoys all aspects of space news, astronomy and commercial spaceflight. Miriam has also presented space stories during live interviews with Fox News and other TV and radio outlets. She originally hails from Knoxville, Tennessee where she and her family would take trips to dark spots on the outskirts of town to watch meteor showers every year. She loves to travel and one day hopes to see the northern lights in person.

Latest articles by Miriam Kramer

Liftoff! US, Russia Launch Historic One-Year Space Mission

By Miriam Kramer published 27 March 15

Space Exploration

Aurora Over Kiruna, Sweden, March 17, 2015

See the Spectacular Aurora Photos from St. Patrick's Day Solar Storm

By Miriam Kramer published 18 March 15

Green auroras danced in skies around the world last night thanks to a massive solar storm that super-charged the cosmic light displays for St. Patrick's Day.

The Sun

This NOAA image shows the forecast for aurora activity on March 17, 2015 during a severe solar storm. NOAA space weather experts say there is a chance for auroras as far south as the mid-United States, along a line extending through Tennessee.

St. Patrick's Day Solar Storm Bombards Earth, Sparks Auroras

By Miriam Kramer published 17 March 15

The Sun

Leonard Nimoy, seen here as the Vulcan "Spock" in the classic science-fiction television series, "Star Trek," passed away on Feb. 27, 2015.

Leonard Nimoy, Spock on 'Star Trek,' Dies at 83

By Miriam Kramer published 27 February 15

Actor Leonard Nimoy, who portrayed the beloved Vulcan 'Spock' on the original "Star Trek" TV show, died today (Feb. 27) at 83 years old.

Arts & Entertainment

The Next-Generation Transit Survey (NGTS) at Paranal

New Telescope in Chile Now Searching for Alien Planets

By Miriam Kramer published 21 January 15

A new alien-planet–hunting telescope has just come online in Chile, and it could help scientists peer into the atmospheres of relatively small planets circling nearby stars.

Extraterrestrial Life

Hubble Telescope Captures Best View Ever of the Andromeda Galaxy

By Miriam Kramer published 9 January 15

Cosmology

Lift Off of NASA's First Orion Space Capsule

NASA Launches First Orion Deep-Space Capsule in Historic Test Flight

By Miriam Kramer published 5 December 14

Space Exploration

European Spacecraft Lands on Comet in Historic Space Feat

By Miriam Kramer published 12 November 14

For the first time in history, a spacecraft built on Earth has softly landed on the face of a comet speeding through deep space.

Comets

Philae Probe on Comet 67p/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

European Probe to Make Daring Landing on Comet Wednesday: Watch Live

By Miriam Kramer published 11 November 14

A European probe is expected to make an audacious landing on the face of a comet tomorrow (Nov. 12), and you can follow it live online starting today (Nov. 11).

Comets

Largest Sunspot in 24 Years Wows Scientists, But Also Mystifies

By Miriam Kramer published 3 November 14

The biggest sunspot to grace the face of the sun in more than two decades is rotating out of view, but it was responsible for kicking up some truly amazing solar activity this week.

The Sun

Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo Spacecraft Crashes During Test Flight

By Miriam Kramer published 31 October 14

SpaceShipTwo, Virgin Galactic's passenger spacecraft, experienced an 'anomaly' during its fourth rocket-powered test flight on Friday, Oct. 31. See the latest details here.

Space Exploration

Elon Musk at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's AeroAstro 100 conference on Oct. 24, 2014.

Elon Musk: Artificial Intelligence Is Humanity's 'Biggest Existential Threat'

By Miriam Kramer published 27 October 14

Artificial Intelligence

The spectacular "blood moon" total lunar eclipse of Oct. 8, 2014 is captured by photographer John W. Johnson of the Omaha Astronomical Society in Nebraska in the United States.

'Blood Moon' Photos: Total Lunar Eclipse Thrills Skywatchers

By Miriam Kramer published 8 October 14

Astronomy

During a science break for the 2014 Ig Nobel Awards ceremony on Sept. 18, presenters create a gelatin substance while a "human sparkplug" looks on.

Ig Nobel Prizes 2014: Jesus Toast, Dog Poop and Raucous Science

By Miriam Kramer published 19 September 14

Religion

2013 Harvest Moon Over Cascade Mountains

Full Harvest Moon Dominates Night Sky Tonight: Watch It Live

By Miriam Kramer published 8 September 14

The full Harvest Moon rises tonight (Sept. 8), and even if you can't see it from your own backyard, you can still watch it live online.

Astronomy

Newfound Asteroid Will Give Earth Super-Close Shave on Sunday

By Miriam Kramer published 4 September 14

An asteroid will make a close brush with Earth on Sunday, passing by the planet well inside the orbit of the moon.

Asteroids

The International Space Station from above

Sea Plankton on Space Station? Russian Official Claims It's So

By Miriam Kramer published 22 August 14

A Russian official claims that samples collected by cosmonauts show evidence of sea plankton on the outside of the International Space Station, news agencies are reporting.

Space Exploration

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Movie Still

'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes': Why Apes Can't Speak Like Humans

By Miriam Kramer published 17 July 14

Monkeys

Digitally rendered apes of all kinds, and played by human actors, take center stage in the "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes."

'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes': How Actor Embraced Orangutans for Role

By Miriam Kramer published 11 July 14

Monkeys

A massive X2.2 solar flare erupts off the left limb of the sun in this view captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory on June 10, 2014, at 7:41 a.m. EDT.

Sun Unleashes 2 Major Solar Flares Back-to-Back (Video)

By Miriam Kramer published 10 June 14

The sun unleashed two massive solar flares Tuesday (June 10), both of them reaching X-class levels, the biggest storms on the sun. See video of the solar flares here.

The Sun

'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes': Digital Effects Wow in Trailer

By Miriam Kramer published 9 May 14

Arts & Entertainment

Q&A: Bill Nye the Science Guy on Creationism, Mars and Science TV

By Miriam Kramer published 8 May 14

Bill Nye — the creator and star of the 1990s hit TV show "Bill Nye the Science Guy" — thinks that entertainment can help raise scientifically literate kids.

Mars