Posts by

Deborah Byrd

New Horizons returns last of Pluto data

Remember when they said it would take more than a year for New Horizons to send its data back from Pluto? Now, say scientists, "We have our pot of gold."

Deborah Byrd

October 28, 2016

Catching the elusive gegenschein

The gegenschein, or counterglow, is a faint brightening of the night sky in the region opposite the sun. It's sunlight scattered by interplanetary dust.

Deborah Byrd

October 28, 2016

Earth-sized planets with lots of water

A computer simulation suggests that low-mass stars might be a good place to look for Earth-sized exoplanets, in their stars' habitable zones.

Deborah Byrd

October 27, 2016

Astronomers to observe Tabby’s Star

Observations begin tonight with the Green Bank radio telescope. Astronomers are seeking evidence of an extraterrestrial civilization.

Deborah Byrd

October 26, 2016

Check out a new lunar crater

Sure, most of the moon's craters were made billions of years ago. But - even now - the moon is still being hit by a surprising number of meteoroids.

Deborah Byrd

October 25, 2016

Orionid meteor in moonlight

Eliot Herman had 2 things working against him when he caught this photo. The moon was bright, and it was the night after the shower's peak. But the result is beautiful.

Deborah Byrd

October 25, 2016

Seasonal change on Saturn’s moon Titan

As the Cassini mission to Saturn prepares for its grand finale, scientists sound nostalgic and thrilled about data on Titan's changing seasons.

Deborah Byrd

October 24, 2016

Tracking volcanos on Jupiter’s moon Io

Scientists used earthly telescopes to track hot spots on Io over a period of years and saw that it remains the most volcanically active world in our solar system.

Deborah Byrd

Eleanor Imster

October 24, 2016

Have you seen Venus?

Venus is the brightest planet, 3rd-brightest object in our sky after the sun and moon. You can't miss it in the west after sunset.

Deborah Byrd

October 23, 2016

Boom! Orbiter spies crash site on Mars

Images from space show a dark spot on Mars' surface where none was seen before, thought to be where the Schiaparelli lander crashed on Mars last Wednesday.

Deborah Byrd

October 22, 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.