Posts by

Deborah Byrd

Full braking at Alpha Centauri

Space visionaries might have figured out a way to travel within decades to the nearest star system, Alpha Centauri. But, once we get there, how do we slow down?

Deborah Byrd

February 10, 2017

Thursday night’s rising moon

Thursday's moonrise as viewed from Colorado. On Friday evening, the Americas will see an eclipse at moonrise. Eastern America will have a better view of the eclipse than western America.

Deborah Byrd

February 10, 2017

Sky solution to help endangered species

An astrophysicist and an ecologist are combining their expertise using drones, thermal cameras and the techniques used to analyse objects in space in order to help endangered species.

Deborah Byrd

February 9, 2017

Northern U.S. meteor dazzles thousands

Early Monday morning, thousands of people across multiple northern U.S. states watched a brilliant meteor streak across the sky. It then plunged into Lake Michigan.

Deborah Byrd

February 9, 2017

Funnel cloud from Rio last night

Photos showing a funnel cloud seen around sunset on February 7, 2017, from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. No tornado, storm or even rain was reported.

Deborah Byrd

February 8, 2017

Canopus over Spain’s Canary Islands

Every February, Canopus - the sky's 2nd-brightest star - makes its annual brief evening appearance for Northern Hemisphere stargazers.

Deborah Byrd

February 7, 2017

Lost continent under Indian Ocean?

Evidence in rocks of a "lost continent," thought to be leftover after the ancient supercontinent Gondwana began breaking up some 200 million years ago.

Deborah Byrd

February 6, 2017

Venus over Chicago skyline

Venus shines so brightly after sunset now that even the lights of Chicago can't hide it!

Deborah Byrd

February 6, 2017

Jupiter starts retrograde on February 6

The best time to look for Jupiter is just ahead. Its retrograde motion begins today. A bright star, Spica in the constellation Virgo, is right next to it.

Deborah Byrd

Larry Sessions

February 6, 2017

Vanishing ice volcanoes on Ceres?

Dwarf planet Ceres - largest body in the asteroid belt - has at least 1 known ice volcano. But that volcano might also have older siblings that disappeared over millions of years.

Deborah Byrd

February 5, 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.