Posts by

Deborah Byrd

Chip brings exoplanets into clearer view

The new chip will let astronomers peer through the dust cloud in which new planets are forming, in much the same way that firefighters use infrared to see through smoke.

Deborah Byrd

December 7, 2016

Cassini’s penultimate orbit: 1st images

Cassini spacecraft at Saturn now in its final year. Carolyn Porco said: "Let these images ... remind you that we've lived a bold and daring adventure around the solar system's most magnificent planet."

Deborah Byrd

December 7, 2016

Milky Way over Eagle Lake, Maine

Stars reflecting in the largest fresh water lake in Maine's ruggedly beautiful Acadia National Park.

Deborah Byrd

December 6, 2016

Star clusters seen spewing out dust

UCLA astronomers confirm that stars are responsible for producing dust on a galactic scale, a finding that's consistent with long-standing theories.

Deborah Byrd

December 5, 2016

Gravity waves over China

Gravity waves traveling upwards from the lower atmosphere caused this unusual banded structure in airglow above China in late November.

Deborah Byrd

December 5, 2016

Astronomers see giant galaxy being born

The Spiderweb Galaxy - which spans some 3 times the diameter of our Milky Way - is forming inside a cluster of protogalaxies, in a dense soup of molecular gas.

Deborah Byrd

December 4, 2016

See it! Moon sweeps past Venus

The moon passed Venus Friday evening, but there's more to come. Wonderful photos here! Thanks to all who submitted. Keep watching this post for more photos.

Deborah Byrd

December 4, 2016

Moon, Venus, Mars on December 3

The moon is sandwiched between very bright Venus and fainter, reddish Mars this evening. Watch for them in the sunset direction, shortly after the sun goes down.

Deborah Byrd

December 3, 2016

It’s a bird, a plane, the tiniest asteroid!

Asteroid 2015 TC25 is small enough to be straddled by a person, reminiscent of the iconic bomb-riding scene in the movie Dr. Strangelove. It swept between us and the moon a year ago.

Deborah Byrd

December 2, 2016

Moon and Venus on December 1, 2016

Did you see the very young waxing crescent moon on November 30? It'll be easier to see on December 1, low in the west after sunset, below a very bright object ... Venus!

Deborah Byrd

December 1, 2016

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.