Posts by

Deborah Byrd

James Webb Telescope chillin’ in Houston

In hot Houston, the telescope hangs in historic Chamber A at Johnson Space Center, with the best air conditioning available. It'll soon receive a last test of its ability to withstand the cold of space.

Deborah Byrd

July 11, 2017

California’s Alamo Fire, from space

Large plume of smoke from the Alamo Fire in southern California, blowing over the eastern Pacific on July 9. Areas burning actively at that time appear in red.

Deborah Byrd

July 11, 2017

Gender, racial bias in astronomy revealed

Research has found that women generally experience subtle, indirect or unintentional discrimination in the sciences. A new survey shows women of color undergo the worst harassment.

Deborah Byrd

July 10, 2017

Astronomers track hypervelocity stars

New video shows 6 hypervelocity stars, zipping from Milky Way center to outskirts. An interaction with our galaxy's central, supermassive black hole might have kicked them into fast motion.

Deborah Byrd

July 10, 2017

Supernumerary rainbow over NYC

Look inside the bright primary bow for colorful fringes, whose number and spacing can change from minute to minute. Alexander Krivenyshev caught this one over New York City on Saturday, July 8.

Deborah Byrd

July 10, 2017

See it! This weekend’s full moon

Favorite photos of the July 2017 full moon from EarthSky friends around the world. Thanks to all who submitted to EarthSky or posted to EarthSky Facebook!

Deborah Byrd

July 9, 2017

100 billion failed stars in Milky Way?

A recent survey revealed 1 brown dwarf for every 2 stars in the star cluster RCW 38 and other clusters. "There are a huge number of brown dwarfs out there," astronomers said.

Deborah Byrd

July 8, 2017

Sunspot, and chance of weekend storms

Experts say there's a 60% chance this weekend of geomagnetic storms, possibly causing auroras. Plus, over the past couple of days, a lone sunspot has grown rapidly!

Deborah Byrd

July 7, 2017

Solar minimum is coming

Low ebb in the 11-year sunspot cycle expected 2019-2020. Want some basic information about the sunspot cycle and its effects? Watch this NASA ScienceCast.

Eleanor Imster

Deborah Byrd

July 7, 2017

Breathtaking night-shining clouds

Wonderful video showing noctilucent - or night-shining - clouds recorded on July 1 and 4. These clouds shine in the darkness, typically on summer nights.

Deborah Byrd

July 7, 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.