Posts by

Deborah Byrd

New study suggests violent origin for Mars’ moons

It was thought Mars' 2 small moons - Phobos and Deimos - might be captured asteroids. But new work suggests a violent birth for the moons during a colossal impact.

Deborah Byrd

April 19, 2018

TESS planet hunter on its way

"It’s the beginning of a new era of exoplanet research."

Deborah Byrd

April 19, 2018

Was another civilization on Earth before humans?

How do we know earlier industrial civilizations on Earth didn't rise and fall long before humans appeared? That's the question posed in a new scientific thought experiment.

Deborah Byrd

April 18, 2018

Green moon on April 20, 2018? Nah

For weeks, people have searched for this post more than any other at EarthSky. No, there won't be a green moon on April 20, 2018. It's a joke, y'all, with its roots (ahem) in cannabis culture. :-)

Deborah Byrd

April 18, 2018

The search for the sun’s lost siblings

Our sun's sibling stars could be scattered across the sky. Astronomers are sifting through newly released data in the GALAH Survey - a galactic archaeology survey - hoping to find them.

Deborah Byrd

April 17, 2018

Scientists seeking continuous gravitational waves

Scientists 1st observed gravitational waves from merging black holes. Now they're targeting a different gravitational wave signal: a long continuous waveform from a rapidly spinning neutron star.

Deborah Byrd

April 17, 2018

Window, zodiacal light, setting moon

A popular hike in Big Bend National Park in Texas will take you to what's called "the Window.” It's a grand place to watch the sun or moon set. Here's a night shot, complete with zodiacal light.

Deborah Byrd

April 17, 2018

Milky Way spins across the sky

This composite - centered on celestial south - is made of images taken hourly from outside the dome of the Anglo-Australian Telescope at Siding Spring Observatory.

Deborah Byrd

April 16, 2018

Impossibly starry skies over NYC

This week is International Dark Sky Week. Celebrate by watching this impossible, but magical, video of dark, starry skies over light-polluted New York City. It's new from Project Skyglow.

Deborah Byrd

April 15, 2018

Theorists describe black hole megamergers

"Binary black holes are basically like giant targets hanging out in a globular star cluster, and as you throw other black holes or stars at them, they undergo these crazy chaotic encounters."

Deborah Byrd

April 15, 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.