Posts by

Deborah Byrd

Colors of scintillating Venus

Venus reaches inferior conjunction today, officially leaving the evening sky. It has been low in the sky, where Earth's atmosphere has caused Venus to scintillate, or twinkle, in many colors.

Deborah Byrd

March 25, 2017

New map of space dust in 3-D

Sure, we're all collections of space dust. But astronomers also want to study it in order to understand how space dust in our Milky Way obscures starlight from afar.

Deborah Byrd

March 25, 2017

Perfect airplane glory

You might catch an airplane glory when a mist or cloud lies below you, with the sun shining upon it.

Deborah Byrd

March 24, 2017

Record low sea ice at both poles

Considering both poles in February 2017, Earth essentially lost the equivalent of a chunk of sea ice larger than Mexico, in contrast to the average global minimum for 1981-2010.

Deborah Byrd

March 23, 2017

Does Mars sometimes have rings?

It's possible that Mars' closer moon - Phobos - might alternate between becoming a planetary ring and clumping together to form a moon.

Deborah Byrd

March 23, 2017

Green flash at sunset

It's easiest to see a green flash with optical aid, but you have to be very careful not to look too soon, or you'll dazzle - or damage - your eyes.

Deborah Byrd

March 22, 2017

Last sunset of winter sun pillar

Photographer Josh Blash caught this sun pillar last night in Hampton, New Hampshire. It's caused by ice crystals drifting in the air.

Deborah Byrd

March 20, 2017

Fizzy lakes for Saturn’s moon Titan?

Bright features - informally known as "magic islands" - seem to appear and disappear in a Titan sea. A new study shows that bubbles could, potentially, be the cause.

Deborah Byrd

March 20, 2017

Last night’s successful SpaceX launch

After standing down due to high winds, SpaceX chose March 16 for its EchoStar XXIII launch. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket delivered this commercial communications satellite for EchoStar Corporation to a geostationary transfer orbit.

Deborah Byrd

March 17, 2017

Where was dark matter in early universe?

Surprising new observations of distant galaxies suggest that dark matter was less influential in the early universe than it is today.

Deborah Byrd

March 17, 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.