Posts by

Deborah Byrd

Lake Superior sediment-heavy after torrential rains

The downpour took place last weekend in parts of the U.S. Upper Midwest - Wisconsin, Minnesota and especially northern Michigan. Satellite images show the effects on Lake Superior, the largest of the Great Lakes of North America.

Deborah Byrd

June 21, 2018

Celebrate the solstice with this cool solargraph

The streaks in the photos are sun-trails - that is, they're the sun moving in its shifting path across our sky from day to day over a 6-month period.

Deborah Byrd

June 21, 2018

Mars dust storm grows global

The storm is now officially "planet-encircling." At Gale Crater, where the Curiosity rover is studying the storm's effects, dust has starkly increased. Meanwhile, the Opportunity rover stays silent.

Deborah Byrd

June 20, 2018

Moai head and Milky Way

No matter where you are on Earth, the richest part of the Milky Way is now coming back into view in the evening. Spectacular everywhere. At Easter Island, awesome!

Deborah Byrd

June 19, 2018

3D view of Amazon rainforest canopy

A rainforest canopy can reach 15 to 20 stories high. It's an ecosystem unto itself. Now - to study drought effects - scientists have made the 1st 3D measurements of rainforest canopies in the Brazilian Amazon.

Deborah Byrd

June 18, 2018

See it! Young moon and Venus

Over several days this weekend, the moon swept near the brightest planet, Venus, in the west after sunset. Thanks to all who contributed photos! Editor's picks, here ...

Deborah Byrd

June 17, 2018

Ice losses from Antarctica have tripled since 2012

Ice melting in Antarctica has raised sea levels by 7.6 mm since 1992, with almost half of this rise coming in the last five years.

Deborah Byrd

June 15, 2018

A giant dust storm is raging on Mars

One of the thickest dust storms ever seen on Mars has been spreading since early June. The Opportunity rover - 1 of 2 active rovers on Mars - has suspended science operations.

Deborah Byrd

June 14, 2018

Coyote and apple in rural New Mexico

Coyotes prefer meat, but they'll also eat insects, fruit and grass if that's what's available.

Deborah Byrd

June 14, 2018

ALMA spies 3 planets around a young star

Astronomers have evidence for 3 infant planets forming in a disk around a newborn star. They say their new observing technique could find some of the youngest planets in our galaxy.

Deborah Byrd

June 13, 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.