My news reporting & feature writing has appeared in New Scientist, BBC Sky at Night Magazine, Physics World, Focus and Astronomy Now among other titles.
Below you’ll find a small portfolio of my news stories as well as a full list of all the articles I’ve written over the years, including features & columns.
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Selected news reporting
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Full list of published articles
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News stories
Bright ‘nearby’ gamma-ray burst dazzles astronomers, 14 October 2022, Physics World. [Read it online].
Lava erupting on Jupiter’s volcanic moon Io is over 1000°C, 6 October 2022, New Scientist. [Read it online].
Astronomers trace fireball in Earth’s skies to space rock that made it, 22 September 2022, New Scientist. [Read it online].
Major fireball seen over UK was caused by chunk of space rock, 16 September 2022, New Scientist. [Read it online].
Juno spacecraft prepares for close encounter with icy moon Europa, 8 September 2022, New Scientist. [Read it online].
JWST finds galaxies may adopt Milky Way-like shape faster than thought, 25 July 2022, New Scientist. [Read it online].
Red smudge seen by JWST could unlock chemistry of the early universe, 18 July 2022, New Scientist. [Read it online].
How the James Webb Space Telescope’s first colour images were made, 11 July 2022, New Scientist. [Read it online].
Simulations show that asteroid impacts would destroy evidence for relic shorelines on Mars, 30 June 2022, Physics World. [Read it online].
First-ever image of the black hole ‘shadow’ at the heart of the Milky Way revealed by the Event Horizon Telescope, 12 May 2022, Physics World. [Read it online].
Mysterious gamma rays at centre of Milky Way could be from pulsars, 28 April 2022, New Scientist. [Read it online].
Small asteroid hits Earth just hours after astronomers detect it, 15 March 2022, New Scientist. [Read it online].
‘Huge leap’ as scientists report first drone-assisted space rock recovery after observed meteorite fall, 9 March 2022, Physics World. [Read it online].
NASA funds experimental radiation shield and Mars climbing robot, 3 March 2022, New Scientist. [Read it online].
Solitary stellar-mass black hole found wandering through the Milky Way, 3 February 2022, Physics World. [Read it online].
We may now know why Uranus and Neptune are different shades of blue, 28 January 2022, New Scientist. [Read it online].
NASA is launching X-ray telescope to study the science of black holes, 8 December 2021, New Scientist. [Read it online].
Sun-like stars may go through brighter phases as they grow up, 2 December 2021, New Scientist. [Read it online].
Arid meteor shower makes new appearance in southern hemisphere skies, 15 October 2021, New Scientist. [Read it online].
Simulations offer observational test for Planet Nine hypothesis, 7 October 2021, Physics World. [Read it online].
Amateur astronomers capture flash from asteroid impacting Jupiter, 24 September 2021, Physics World. [Read it online].
The BepiColombo spacecraft is about to make its first Mercury fly-by, 17 September 2021, New Scientist. [Read it online].
Comet’s dust trail could rain down on Venus this December, 1 August 2021, New Scientist. [Read it online].
World’s first commercial deep-space communications antenna opens in UK, 22 July 2021, New Scientist. [Read it online].
Solar sail spacecraft could be used to intercept interstellar objects, 2 July 2021, New Scientist. [Read it online].
Huge Oort Cloud object has been spotted entering the outer Solar System, 24 June 2021, Physics World. [Read it online].
Meteorite-hunting drones could help find freshly fallen space rocks, 22 June 2021, New Scientist. [Read it online].
NASA is about to visit Ganymede for the first time in two decades, 7 June 2021, New Scientist. [Read it online].
Star cluster lurking in the shadows may help explain galactic mystery, 19 May 2021, New Scientist. [Read it online].
Meteorite recovered in the UK after spectacular fireball in the sky, 9 March 2021, New Scientist. [Read it online].
Juno spacecraft spots meteor fireball lighting up Jupiter’s skies, 17 February 2021, New Scientist. [Read it online].
Next-generation planetary missions could hunt for gravitational waves, say astronomers, 9 Feb 2021, Physics World. [Read online].
Astronomers propose telescope to monitor Betelgeuse dimming, 19 October 2020, Physics World. [Read it online].
How to see the spectacular Comet NEOWISE with the naked eye, 13 July 2020, New Scientist. [Read it online].
Planet-eating star could be lurking in nearby cluster, 13 September 2019, Physics World. [Read it online].
We spotted a star moving so fast it will enter intergalactic space, 2 August 2019, New Scientist. [Read it online].
Comet mission given green light by European Space Agency, 21 June 2019, Physics World. [Read it online].
Gravitational wave mission detects rain of interplanetary dust, 17 May 2019, Physics World. [Read it online].
Astronomers eye-up an orbiting array for imaging Milky Way’s supermassive black hole, 29 April 2019, Physics World. [Read it online].
Curved camera chips may be the next leap in astronomical imaging, 5 March 2019, Physics World. [Read it online].
Gaia spacecraft prepares to weather an incoming meteoroid storm, 3 October 2018, New Scientist. [Read it online].
NASA’s new exoplanet-hunter has spotted its first alien world, 20 September 2018, New Scientist. [Read it online].
Voyager 1 might have seen Enceladus’ icy plumes 25 years early, 23 February 2017, New Scientist. [Read it online].
Galaxy mapper’s first discovery: surprise space debris, 21 July 2014, New Scientist. [Read it online].
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Feature articles
JUICE takes flight, April 2023, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
12 astrophotography pitfalls (and how to avoid them), August 2022, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
Balmy nights of brilliant sights, June 2022, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
Learning about layers, May 2022, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
Eyepiece expectations, February 2022, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
Rays of inspiration, November 2021, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
Urban stargazing: astronomy under light-polluted skies, October 2021, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
Perseid perfection, August 2021, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
A night on the coast, May 2021, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
Homeward bound from Bennu, March 2021, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
Picturing space, February 2021, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
Looking for a new horizon, December 2020, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
Galactic gatherings, November 2020, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
The comet that crumbled, October 2020, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
Fire in the Jovian sky, July 2020, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
Delight in the darkness, March 2020, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
A beginner’s guide to telescope mounts, February 2020, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
Phaethon revealed, December 2019, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
Chasing the Zodiacal Light, October 2019, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
Wonders of the Cygnus Loop, September 2019, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
Photographing the planets: a fresh perspective, June 2019, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
Banish the blur, April 2019, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
Capture the night sky with a smartphone, March 2019, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
Photograph the rising Full Moon, February 2019, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
2019 – the year in space, January 2019, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
A year of celestial wonders, December 2018, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
The thrilling 30, November 2018, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
Shooting the Milky Way’s wide-field wonders, October 2018, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
Colours of the Cosmos, September 2018, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
Take it from me – tips from the astronomy experts, August 2018, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
Chasing the South American eclipse, July 2018, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
Stellarium uncovered, June 2018, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
Have scope, will travel, May 2018, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
Splendours of spring, April 2018, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
Ripples, radiation and revelation, March 2018, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
Sparkling diamonds in the winter sky, February 2018, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
Capturing the Hunter, January 2018, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
Extraordinary Exmoor, December 2017, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
The sky in motion, November 2017, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
The wonder of satellites, October 2017, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
Wild astronomy, September 2017, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
Making the most of full Moon, August 2017, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
Summer’s night-shining spectacle, July 2017, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
The realm of ghosts, June 2017, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
Cassini – the ring grazer, May 2017, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
Buying your first telescope, April 2017, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
The art of astrophoto composition, March 2017, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
Hidden skyscapes, February 2017, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
The stars of winter, January 2017, BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
Rosetta’s final descent, December 2016, Sky at Night Magazine.
Rise of the rovers, November 2016, Sky at Night Magazine
On demand aurora, October 2016, Sky at Night Magazine.
Tricks of the trade, September 2016, Sky at Night Magazine.
Embracing the Moon’s draw, August 2016, Sky at Night Magazine.
In Galileo’s wake, July 2016, Sky at Night Magazine.
Cassini’s final adventure, June 2016, Sky at Night Magazine.
Spying a solar system’s birth, May 2016, Sky at Night Magazine.
Secrets of Selene, April 2016, Sky at Night Magazine.
Messengers from the Solar System, March 2016, Sky at Night Magazine.
A beginner’s guide to imaging the Moon, February 2016, Sky at Night Magazine.
2016 – the year ahead, January 2016, Sky at Night Magazine.
Beyond Pluto, 21 November 2015 issue (No. 3048), New Scientist. [Read it online]
Exoplanet hunters – the next generation, December 2015, Sky at Night Magazine.
Rosetta – the journey so far, November 2015, Sky at Night Magazine.
The October Octathlon, October 2015, Sky at Night Magazine.
The science of Cygnus, September 2015, Sky at Night Magazine.
Make the most of summer solar observing, August 2015, Sky at Night Magazine.
50 years of Mars exploration, July 2015, Sky at Night Magazine.
Surprises at Ceres, June 2015, Sky at Night Magazine.
Create your own images with space mission data, May 2015, Sky at Night Magazine.
Widen your horizons, April 2015, Sky at Night Magazine.
MESSENGER’s last dispatch, March 2015, Sky at Night Magazine.
Trial by fire, February 2015, Sky at Night Magazine.
2015: my observing year, January 2015, Sky at Night Magazine.
The rebirth of Kepler, December 2014, Sky at Night Magazine.
The supernova shop, November 2014, Sky at Night Magazine.
The far frontier, October 2014, Sky at Night Magazine.
Secret treasures of the autumn sky, September 2014, Sky at Night Magazine.
The comet chaser, August 2014, BBC Focus.
The glowing ghosts, August 2014, Sky at Night Magazine.
Making an impact, July 2014, Sky at Night Magazine.
Jewels of summer, June 2014, Sky at Night Magazine.
The Riddles of the Rings, May 2014, Sky at Night Magazine.
Unlocking the secrets of light, April 2014, Sky at Night Magazine.
The perils of perihelion, March 2014, Sky at Night Magazine.
Beta yourself – astrophotography, March 2014, Stuff magazine.
Venus: a world clouded in mystery, February 2014, Sky at Night Magazine.
Tonight’s the night!, Spring 2014 issue, National Trust Magazine.
Stargazing in 2014, January 2014, Sky at Night Magazine.
NASA’s craziest ideas, January 2014, BBC Focus.
The planets that shouldn’t exist, December 2013, Sky at Night Magazine.
Comets – biochemical couriers?, November 2013, Sky at Night Magazine.
The ultimate observing list, September 2013, Sky at Night Magazine.
This magical display in the night sky dances because of the Sun, 7 September 2013, The Daily Telegraph
Sailing on a sea of light, August 2013, Sky at Night Magazine.
Light revolution, April 2013, Sky at Night Magazine.
Stargazing for beginners, January 2013, Countryfile magazine.
NASA needs you!, November 2012, Sky at Night Magazine.
15 years of Cassini, October 2012, Sky at Night Magazine.
The violent Sun, July 2012, Sky at Night Magazine.
55 years of The Sky at Night, April 2012, Sky at Night Magazine.
The observers’ guide to star parties, March 2012, Sky at Night Magazine.
Top 10 sights of 2012, January 2012, Sky at Night Magazine.
Stargazing LIVE returns!, January 2012, Sky at Night Magazine.
Secrets of the Moon revealed, December 2011, Sky at Night Magazine.
Explaining the aurora, November 2011, Sky at Night Magazine.
Curiouser & curiouser, Nov/Dec 2011, BBC Knowledge Magazine.
The new season starts now, September 2011, Sky at Night Magazine.
The UK’s biggest telescopes, August 2011, Sky at Night Magazine.
Islands of darkness, July 2011, Sky at Night Magazine.
Astrophotography: the complete guide (part 2) — the Moon, May 2011, Sky at Night Magazine.
Comets in disguise, March 2011, Sky at Night Magazine.
How to see the aurora from the UK, February 2011, Sky at Night Magazine.
Ice haloes, January 2011, Sky at Night Magazine.
Brian Cox’s guide to the galaxies, January 2011, BBC Focus.
Stargazing Live, January 2011, Sky at Night Magazine.
A planet like Earth, December 2010, Sky at Night Magazine.
Standing on the shoulders of giants, November 2010, Sky at Night Magazine.
The new season starts here, September 2010, Sky at Night Magazine.
The impossible star, August 2010, Sky at Night Magazine.
Dark matter: how astronomers are closing in on the hidden Universe, July 2010, Sky at Night Magazine.
Astronomy needs you!, June 2010, Sky at Night Magazine.
Enceladus: water world, May 2010, Sky at Night Magazine.
The deadly supernova, April 2010, Sky at Night Magazine.
Seven wonders of the Solar System, February 2010, Sky at Night Magazine.
How the Milky Way was built (article by Will within feature by Robert Matthews), February 2010, BBC Knowledge Magazine.
Remote control, November 2009, Sky at Night Magazine.
Sky At Night Magazine interviews: Ann Druyan, October 2009, Sky at Night Magazine.
How a galaxy grows (spread by Will within feature by Robert Matthews), September 2009, Focus.
Search for the lost planet, August 2009, Sky at Night Magazine.
Return to the Moon, July 2009, Sky at Night Magazine.
How to use Norton’s star atlas, July 2009, Sky at Night Magazine.
Asteroids: why do we keep missing them?, June 2009, Sky at Night Magazine.
A safe landing, June 2009, Man on the Moon (Sky at Night Magazine special publication).
How you can see what Hubble sees, May 2009, Sky at Night Magazine.
Meet the time traveller, April 2009, Sky at Night Magazine.
Return to the Moon, April 2009, Sky at Night Magazine.
Observing challenge, March 2009, Sky at Night Magazine.
Landing a lab on Mars, February 2009, Sky at Night Magazine.
Frenetic fields, January 2009, Sky at Night Magazine.
5 years of Mars Express, December 2008, Sky at Night Magazine.
Your first telescope, November 2008, Sky at Night Magazine.
Mercury surprising, October 2008, Sky at Night Magazine.
The next supernova, September 2008, Sky at Night Magazine.
50 wonders you must see before you die, August 2008, Sky at Night Magazine.
Taking it further, July 2008, Sky at Night Magazine.
Summer sights, June 2008, Sky at Night Magazine.
Where do comets really come from?, May 2008, Sky at Night Magazine.
Britain’s Moon shot, April 2008, Sky at Night Magazine.
Save the skies, save the world, March 2008, Sky at Night Magazine.
On the hunt for celestial jewels, October 2007, Devon Life.
10 astronomy experiments for kids, September 2007, Astronomy Now.
A day out at Europe’s ‘space city’, June 2007, Astronomy Now.
Columbus, deception and the lunar eclipse, March 2007, Devon Life.
Moon-mosaic magic, March 2007, Astronomy Now.
Awesome Andromeda, February 2007, Astronomy Now.
Dark-sky delights, January 2007, Somerset Life (reprint of earlier Devon Life feature).
Celestial fireworks, November 2006, Devon Life.
How to…Sketch and log observations, November 2006, Sky at Night Magazine.
Magnetic monster, November 2006, Astronomy Now.
Dust discs of destiny, October 2006, Astronomy Now.
Dark-sky delights, September 2006, Devon Life.
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Column articles
“Above & Beyond — The JUICE mission”, Sept/Oct 2012, BBC Knowledge Magazine.
“Above & Beyond — Curiosity’s landing”, Jul/Aug 2012, . BBC Knowledge Magazine.
“Above & Beyond — Revisiting the Eagle Nebula”, May/Jun 2012, BBC Knowledge Magazine.
“Above & Beyond — Asteroid Lutetia”, Mar/Apr 2012, BBC Knowledge Magazine.
“Above & Beyond — Exploring Orion”, Jan/Feb 2012, BBC Knowledge Magazine.
“Above & Beyond — The Andromeda Galaxy”, Nov/Dec 2011, BBC Knowledge Magazine.
“Above & Beyond — The Ring Nebula”, Sept/Oct 2011, BBC Knowledge Magazine.
“Above & Beyond — The Milky Way’s heart”, July/Aug 2011, BBC Knowledge Magazine.
“Above & Beyond — Saturn”, May/June 2011, BBC Knowledge Magazine.
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Will Gater 