Posts by

Deborah Byrd

Fast radio bursts: A mystery unfolds

Repeating, short, unpredictable radio bursts left astronomers perplexed. Now they think the bursts were twisted by the extreme environment around a supernova or supermassive black hole.

Deborah Byrd

January 10, 2018

What was that bright flash over Russia?

A flash seen over a wide swath of Russia on January 7 at first caused fears of a U.S. air strike on North Korea. For now, the flash is unexplained.

Deborah Byrd

January 10, 2018

Sun pillar at Frankfort Lighthouse

You might see a sun pillar - or light pillar - extending upward (or downward) from a bright light source. They're caused by ice crystals drifting in Earth's air.

Deborah Byrd

January 10, 2018

New year’s comets

Will 2018 give us a bright comet? There are a couple of possibilities. In the meantime, here are some photos of comets, visible through telescopes, as 2018 begins.

Deborah Byrd

January 9, 2018

Predawn moon near Spica, planets

Still close after their spectacular conjunction on Sunday, the bright planets Jupiter and Mars appear near the bright star Spica and the waning moon Tuesday morning.

Deborah Byrd

January 8, 2018

NASA spacecraft spies electric-blue clouds over Antarctica

These noctilucent, or night-shining, clouds are seeded by debris from disintegrating meteors. They glow electric blue when they reflect sunlight.

Deborah Byrd

January 7, 2018

Sea smoke sunrise at Nubble Lighthouse

Sea smoke forms when very cold air moves over warmer water. Jatinkumar Thakkar braved the cold to capture this photo at Nubble Lighthouse in Maine on New Year's Day.

Deborah Byrd

January 6, 2018

See it! High tides and winter storms

High tides followed Monday's supermoon, as Storm Eleanor plowed into Europe. Then a "bomb cyclone" hit the U.S. East Coast. Photos here showing winter's power and terrible beauty.

Deborah Byrd

January 4, 2018

No alien megastructure for Tabby’s Star

This star’s odd, sporadic dimmings and brightenings caused speculation about vast structures built by alien civilizations. But a crowd-funded observing campaign led to a different conclusion.

Deborah Byrd

January 3, 2018

Did our solar system form in a bubble around a giant star?

And now ... a big bubble theory. Scientists are discussing the possibility that our solar system formed in wind-blown bubbles around a giant, long-dead star.

Deborah Byrd

January 3, 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.