
Dr. Jonathan McDowell is an astrophysicist at the Smithsonian
Astrophysical Observatory, part of the Center for
Astrophysics (Harvard and Smithsonian) in Cambridge, MA. A staff member of the Chandra X-ray
Center (CXC), he studies black holes, quasars and X-ray sources in
galaxies, as well as developing data analysis software for the X-ray
astronomy community as part of the Chandra X-ray Observatory team.
As well as studying distant quasars, McDowell is known for work on the
history of space exploration, and maintains the most comprehensive list
of satellite and space launches. McDowell's online newsletter on space launches, Jonathan's Space
Report (since 1989) gives details of all satellite launches, and the associated web site, https://planet4589.org, contains tables of rocket
launches and space activities. In 2018 Dr. McDowell published a paper giving physical arguments that the lower boundary of outer space should
be at 80 km above the Earth, and not the currently-popular value of 100 km. Main belt asteroid (4589) McDowell is named after him.
Sessions in which Jonathan McDowell participates
6:00 PM
6:00 PM
- The Consequences of Actually Finding Life on Mars Harbor I
- 6:00 PM - 6:50 PM | 50 minutes
- Panel
11:00 AM
11:00 AM
- The Durability of Space Marina 1
- 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM | 50 minutes
- Panel
1:00 PM
1:00 PM
- Developing Future Histories Marina 3
- 1:00 PM - 1:50 PM | 50 minutes
- Panel
10:00 AM
10:00 AM
- The X Universe Burroughs
- 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM | 50 minutes
- Solo Talk
12:00 PM
12:00 PM
- Red Moon and the Anniversary of the Moon Landing Harbor I
- 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM | 50 minutes
- Panel