Posts by

Deborah Byrd

Nature likes to make bow waves

Boats moving through water make bow waves. Objects in space, including Earth, make them, too. Even the moon's shadow - penetrating Earth's atmosphere during a total solar eclipse - creates moving bow waves.

Deborah Byrd

March 13, 2018

Check out the Big and Little Dippers

Nice! We published some stories about the Big and Little Dippers and received back some photos. Love it when that happens. Thank you!

Deborah Byrd

March 13, 2018

Best photos of moon’s sweep past morning planets

The waning moon has now swept past all 3 bright planets in the predawn sky. Photos here from the EarthSky community.

Deborah Byrd

March 12, 2018

The science of fake news gets a boost

Scientists call for studies of fake news. Plus a word about so-called "chemtrails."

Deborah Byrd

March 11, 2018

Low rainbow near Joshua Tree

The height of a rainbow depends on the height of the sun. The higher the sun, the lower the rainbow.

Deborah Byrd

March 11, 2018

A tangle of stars in Berenices’ Hair

Berenice's Hair - aka Coma Berenices - requires a dark sky to be seen. But it's worth the effort, a wonderful star cluster!

Deborah Byrd

March 11, 2018

Best photos of Venus and Mercury after sunset

Venus and Mercury were closer earlier this month, but they're easier to see now. Don't miss these 2 innermost worlds in our solar system, in the west after sunset.

Deborah Byrd

March 10, 2018

Update on S2, the star plunging past the Milky Way’s black hole

Astronomers report no companion found for S2, the star orbiting near our Milky Way's central black hole. It's an "all-clear” for an exciting test of Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity.

Deborah Byrd

March 9, 2018

See asteroid 2017 VR12 as it swept past

Asteroid 2017 VR12 passed at 3.76 times the moon's distance on March 7. Here are images and video of its sweep past Earth.

Eddie Irizarry

Deborah Byrd

March 8, 2018

Don’t miss the moon and morning planets

The moon has now swept past Jupiter and is headed for Mars, then Saturn. Don't miss them!

Bruce McClure

Deborah Byrd

March 8, 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.