Posts by

Deborah Byrd

A Dyson sphere harvests the energy of stars

Dyson spheres are named after inventor Freeman J. Dyson. A Dyson sphere is a megastructures that civilizations could use to harness the power of stars.

Deborah Byrd

July 30, 2021

EarthSky’s 2021 meteor shower guide

New moon comes on August 8, leaving skies dark for the Perseids in 2021. EarthSky's meteor shower guide features dates and times. It can help you plan.

Bruce McClure

Deborah Byrd

July 30, 2021

Scutum the Shield is named for a Polish king

Scutum has only has 4 stars that make up the constellation outline, but it's noticeable in a dark sky because a rich region of the Milky Way is behind it.

Deborah Byrd

July 30, 2021

Major 8.2-magnitude earthquake rocks Alaska

Sirens sounded across Alaska's Kodiak island last night, after an 8.2-magnitude earthquake prompted tsunami warmings.

Deborah Byrd

July 29, 2021

Orion the Hunter returns late July or early August

Orion the Hunter returns to the east at dawn every year at this time. Here's how to watch for this most noticeable of constellations.

Deborah Byrd

July 29, 2021

Russia’s Nauka module en route to ISS

Russia's Nauka module reportedly had some issues after reaching orbiting. It's due to dock with the International Space Station on July 29.

Deborah Byrd

July 28, 2021

Perseid meteor shower 2021: All you need to know

In 2021, the peak mornings for the Perseid meteor shower - August 11, 12 and 13 - will be moon-free. Now all you need is a dark sky!

Bruce McClure

Deborah Byrd

July 26, 2021

Delta Aquariid meteor shower 2021: All you need to know

Late July presents a nominal peak for the Delta Aquariid meteor shower, but this long and rambling shower is active from July 12 to August 23 each year.

Bruce McClure

Deborah Byrd

July 26, 2021

Find Perseid and Delta Aquariid radiant points

Every late July and August, two excellent meteor showers overlap. Here's how to find the Perseid and Delta Aquariid radiant points.

Deborah Byrd

July 26, 2021

Visualize the Perseid meteor stream in space

This visualization by Ian Webster and Peter Jenniskens uses NASA data to render the Perseid meteor stream in space. Don't miss this!

Deborah Byrd

July 26, 2021

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Deborah Byrd

Deborah Byrd created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Today, she serves as Editor-in-Chief of this website. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named 3505 Byrd in her honor. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.