Zoe Zontou (@zzontou) header
Zoe Zontou (@zzontou) profile picture

Contemplating the nature of the universe (& also currently..the Sun). Space telescope operator for ESA's Proba-3 mission. ✨

Joined November 2010
Photo by Zoe Zontou (@zzontou)Photo by Zoe Zontou (@zzontou)Photo by Zoe Zontou (@zzontou)Photo by Zoe Zontou (@zzontou)Photo by Zoe Zontou (@zzontou)Photo by Zoe Zontou (@zzontou)Photo by Zoe Zontou (@zzontou)Photo by Zoe Zontou (@zzontou)Photo by Zoe Zontou (@zzontou)Photo by Zoe Zontou (@zzontou)
I haven’t really used Twitter in a long time, but I want to start showcasing more about the awesome mission I work on (which is still a dream to say). Say hello to @esa’s Proba-3 mission! We create & observe artificial solar eclipses in space! 🌞 #proba3
1
1
7
294
Zoe Zontou retweeted
Hello, Moon. It’s great to be back. Here’s a taste of what the Artemis II astronauts photographed during their flight around the Moon. Check out more photos from the mission: nasa.gov/artemis-ii-multimed…
9,718
169,201
9,052
793,544
30,511,027
With the capabilities of Proba-3, we are able to directly observe these solar eclipses for around 5.5-6 hours during each orbital period (~19 hours). That's a HUGE difference compared to natural solar eclipses which only typically last around 8 mins on Earth! 🌞🛰️🔭
1
2
33
And this spectacular image was the first official processed image of an artificial solar eclipse in space created by Proba-3 & captured by ASPIICS back in June of 2025. Needless to say, it was a huge day for us!
1
28
Zoe Zontou retweeted
1972 ➡️2026 Apollo 17 ➡️ Artemis II
7,301
103,000
9,110
663,036
38,888,166
Zoe Zontou retweeted
Even in darkness, we glow. In this image of Earth taken by the Artemis II crew, we can see the electric lights of human activity. In the lower right, sunlight illuminates the limb of the planet.
3,804
43,843
2,606
317,917
10,064,532
Zoe Zontou retweeted
For the first time in over 50 years, humans are Moonbound. At 6:35 p.m. EDT (2235 UTC) NASA’s Space Launch System rocket and the Orion spacecraft lifted off from the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, sending four astronauts on a planned test flight around the Moon and back. go.nasa.gov/4tlRfRS
2,199
24,345
1,253
128,729
3,906,691
Zoe Zontou retweeted
Liftoff. The Artemis II mission launched from @NASAKennedy at 6:35pm ET (2235 UTC), propelling four astronauts on a journey around the Moon. Artemis II will pave the way for future Moon landings, as well as the next giant leap — astronauts on Mars.
3,732
53,976
7,157
174,810
14,429,563
People who get emotional over rocket launches are my people 🦸🚀
33
173
13
1,436
17,434
I grew up always wishing I could have seen & experienced the Apollo era & now..we are living & witnessing the Artemis era. What a beautiful launch. Godspeed, Artemis II! 🥹
1
109
🔭 Until now, observing the inner regions of the Sun’s enigmatic atmosphere – the corona – was close to impossible. 🛰️🛰️☀️ The satellite duo making up our Proba-3 mission fills this observation gap by creating artificial solar eclipses in orbit. 🔗esa.int/Enabling_Support/Spa…
8
49
8
228
19,199
Breaking space news: We have made our own solar eclipse in space! 🌘 Today, we release the first images from our Proba-3 mission, which flies two spacecraft in precise formation to create artificial solar eclipses in orbit. Using a powerful instrument called a coronagraph, Proba-3 lets us observe the Sun’s corona, its ultra-hot outer atmosphere, helping us to understand space weather in ways we can’t from Earth. Learn more ➡️ esa.int/Enabling_Support/Spa…
47
386
68
1,938
279,810
Zoe Zontou retweeted
And there’s glass block that makes the world looks like an acrylic painting.
There’s something so enchanting about how frosted glass makes objects appear as if they’re painted in oils.
61
14,835
253
165,285
3,584,989
68
1,360
136
25,013
1,028,410
Happy planetary parade night! I can only see Mars & Jupiter (& the lovely Pleiades) currently; but what a spectacular sight they always are nonetheless! 🪐
1
122
Amidst all of the chaos in the world, I want to highlight that @NASAVoyager 1 took this incredible photo 35 years ago today. “..it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, & to preserve & cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known.” 🌎
2
82
Our dark Universe detective 🕵️ @ESA_Euclid has discovered a stunning Einstein ring 💍 It surrounds galaxy NGC 6505, which is acting as a gravitational lens, bending light from a distant galaxy behind it 👉 esa.int/Science_Exploration/…
7
65
7
247
17,477
The oldest observable light in the universe is the cosmic microwave background. This baby picture of the universe shows light that was emitted just a few hundred thousand years after the big bang. #MondayMotivation
28
155
9
662
32,234