Posts by

Deborah Byrd

Shelf cloud over New York

A squall line of severe thunderstorms swept over New York City and the surrounding area last Tuesday, creating dramatic skies.

Deborah Byrd

May 19, 2018

See it! Young moon and Venus

The returning moon and brightest planet were near each other in the sky the last 2 evenings. Don't miss these gorgeous photos from the EarthSky community.

Deborah Byrd

May 18, 2018

Wall-E and Eva set record, snag pic

The 1st-ever interplanetary CubeSats - nicknamed Wall-E and Eva - are now on their way to Mars. They set a new CubeSat distance record on May 8. Then Wall-E turned back and grabbed an image of the Earth and moon.

Deborah Byrd

May 17, 2018

Meet the fastest-growing black hole

Because it sucks in so much gas, this black hole appears ultra-luminous. If it sat at the center of our Milky Way, we'd see it shining 10 times more brightly than a full moon.

Deborah Byrd

May 16, 2018

Scientists discover a new type of magnetic event

They were working with spacecraft data, using a new technique to analyze it. They found a new type of magnetic event in the realm just beyond the boundary of Earth's magnetic field.

Deborah Byrd

May 16, 2018

Are there geysers on Europa?

On Monday, scientists announced new evidence suggesting water vapor plumes on Jupiter's moon Europa. Could we send a spacecraft through one, to test whether Europa's liquid ocean - buried below its icy crust - might support life?

Deborah Byrd

May 14, 2018

Is there life in the multiverse?

New research shows that life might be common throughout the multiverse ... if there is a multiverse.

Deborah Byrd

May 14, 2018

Thousands of black holes near Milky Way center?

Astrophysicists found 12 possible black holes near the supermassive black hole at our Milky Way's heart. They could be the 1st known members of a black hole swarm.

Deborah Byrd

May 14, 2018

New views of Jupiter

At a meeting of experts in London last week, citizen scientists Gerald Eichstädt and Seán Doran wowed the audience with this new composite, plus a new dazzling animation, of the giant planet Jupiter.

Deborah Byrd

May 14, 2018

North Pole gets a heat wave

Unseasonably, in recent days, the temperature at the North Pole has soared to the melting point of ice. That's about 30-35 degrees F (17-19 C) above normal.

Deborah Byrd

May 10, 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.