Posts by 

Deborah Byrd

See brightest star, Sirius, in your morning sky

Out late at night or before dawn? Look for the sky's brightest star, Sirius, a brilliant beauty. You'll know it's Sirius if you see Orion's Belt pointing to it.

Proxima Centauri, the closest star to our sun

Proxima Centauri is the nearest star to our sun at 4.22 light-years away. It's home to at least 3 planets and has massive solar flares.

Spooky ghost lights: Believe them if you dare

Ghost lights are strange lights seen over swamps or bogs. Here are some popular places known for ghost lights. Believe in them ... if you dare!

7.4-magnitude earthquake strikes offshore in Philippines

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake offshore in the Philippines prompted a tsunami warming, causing coastal residents to flee, but observers reported only small waves.

What star in the northeast flashes colorfully? It’s Capella!

If you see a bright star in the northeast on October evenings, twinkling with red and green flashes, it's probably Capella. See sky charts here.

1st planet orbiting a sunlike star discovered 30 years ago

On October 6, 1995, astronomers announced the discovery of the 1st known planet orbiting a distant sunlike star. This planet is known as 51 Pegasi b.

The Super Harvest Moon overnight on October 6-7

In 2025, look for the October full moon - the Harvest Moon - on October 6. It's the first of four supermoons in a row.

Proxima Centauri discovered 110 years ago

Astronomers thought Alpha Centauri was the closest star to Earth. Then they found a smaller, fainter star that's even closer. They named it Proxima Centauri.

Gamma Cephei, aka Errai, a future North Star

Gamma Cephei - or Errai - is a binary star system that will one day be Earth’s North Star. It's home to the 1st exoplanet ever discovered.

The Big Dipper: Why can’t you see it now?

The Big Dipper is easy to recognize at most times of the year. But the Big Dipper in autumn rides low in the northern sky in the evening hours.

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