Posts by

Deborah Byrd

See it! Last night’s moon and Venus

Photos from EarthSky friends around the world of Sunday evening's spectacular moon and planet Venus, and Saturday's moon and Mercury. Thanks to all who submitted or posted to our Facebook page! Miss then? Try again Monday.

Deborah Byrd

July 16, 2018

How the moon’s orbit makes supermoons

An explanation of why extra-close perigees and extra-far apogees happen at new and full moons.

Deborah Byrd

July 13, 2018

From Pluto, Earth to transit sun on July 12

Earth transits seen from Pluto are rare. The last one happened in 1931, a year after Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto. It won't happen again for 161 years.

Bruce McClure

Deborah Byrd

July 12, 2018

See it! Tuesday’s moon near Aldebaran

Aldebaran represents the fiery red eye of the Bull in the constellation Taurus. Check out these dramatic photos of the moon and Aldebaran close, on Tuesday morning.

Deborah Byrd

July 10, 2018

See it! Venus and Regulus meet

The bright planet Venus and star Regulus - brightest light in the constellation Leo the Lion - met in the western twilight sky Monday evening.

Deborah Byrd

July 9, 2018

Fragments of asteroid 2018 LA found in Botswana

Astronomers detected a small asteroid just 8 hours before it struck Earth's atmosphere over southern Africa on June 2, producing a terrific explosion. A few days later, researchers reported finding its meteorites.

Deborah Byrd

July 9, 2018

Bright Mars and its reflection

Can Mars appear this bright? Its brightness here is enhanced. Notice the MIlky Way, which doesn't look so bright to the eye. But Mars will be very bright - easily bright enough to reflect in water - in July 2018.

Deborah Byrd

July 5, 2018

Astronomers capture 1st confirmed image of a newborn planet

The newly imaged newborn planet is located at about the distance of Uranus - our solar system's 7th planet - from the dwarf star PDS 70. Its atmosphere appears to be "cloudy," these astronomers said.

Deborah Byrd

July 2, 2018

Join EV Nautilus in a meteorite search

On Monday, the sea-going research vessel EV Nautilus will search for fragments of a minivan-sized meteorite that fell into the ocean, after lighting up skies over Washington, Oregon and British Columbia. You're invited!

Deborah Byrd

July 1, 2018

See it! This weekend’s moon near Mars

July 2018 will be Mars' month, when it'll glow brighter than the bright planet Jupiter ... brighter and redder than it's been since 2003. Photos of this weekend's moon and Mars from the EarthSky community, here.

Deborah Byrd

July 1, 2018

Deborah Byrd

Deborah Byrd (asteroid 3505 Byrd) helps edit EarthSky.org and is a frequent host of EarthSky videos. Deborah created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named in her honor in 1990, a Public Service Award from the National Science Board in 2003, and the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society in 2020. 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.