Posts by

Deborah Byrd

Cloud-to-cloud shadow over China

One morning over Hong Kong, a striking shadow cast from one cloud to another. Photos by Cammy Li. Explanation by Matthew Chin.

Deborah Byrd

November 24, 2017

Last night’s moon, Saturn, Mercury

If you've been watching the west after sunset, you know the young moon is back. It has swept past the planets Saturn and Mercury and still hovers not far from them, with its lighted face pointed toward them.

Deborah Byrd

November 22, 2017

Flowing sand, not water, on Mars

The dark streaks on Mars known as recurring slope lineae are likely the result of repeated avalanches of sand and dust, rather than seeping water, new research shows.

Deborah Byrd

November 21, 2017

Fern, contrail shadow, singing dunes

It was a beautiful day for natural phenomena in the sky, and on the ground.

Deborah Byrd

November 21, 2017

It’s the 1st known interstellar asteroid

It swept nearest the sun in September, then sped away again, back to interstellar space. Astronomers named it `Oumuamua. It's dark red, very elongated and unlike anything in our solar system.

Deborah Byrd

November 20, 2017

Directions to Struan Point Summit, Pitlochry, Scotland

Deborah Byrd

November 19, 2017

Jupiter’s independently pulsating auroras

The auroras over Earth's north and south poles typically mirror each other. But X-ray observations show that Jupiter's auroras pulsate on different timescales.

Deborah Byrd

November 18, 2017

Video: Our living planet from space

“That’s the Earth, breathing every single day, changing with the seasons, responding to the sun, to the changing winds, ocean currents and temperatures."

Deborah Byrd

November 18, 2017

Moon sliding past 3 planets this week

The planets are Mars, Jupiter and Venus. The moon will move past them all in the coming mornings. Look east!

Bruce McClure

Deborah Byrd

November 14, 2017

Will 15 days of darkness start November 15? Nah

Are you ready for 15 days of darkness, November 15-30? No need to be. It's a hoax.

Deborah Byrd

November 13, 2017

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.