Posts by

Deborah Byrd

Mars and Saturn put on a show

See Mars, Saturn and the star Antares in a line on our sky's dome. Photos here from the EarthSky community. Thanks to all who posted!

Deborah Byrd

August 24, 2016

Strong earthquakes rock Italy overnight

Dozens reported killed, and over 150 missing, in the earthquakes that shook Italy in the early morning of August 24. Searches ongoing.

Deborah Byrd

August 24, 2016

Mars and Saturn over the Alps

Mars is the brightest "star" in this image, in the lower right. Saturn is second-brightest, above and to the left of Mars. Plus stars in Scorpius and Ophiuchus.

Deborah Byrd

August 22, 2016

Atmospheric scientists say ‘no chemtrails’

Is there a large-scale, secret program to spray chemicals into Earth's atmosphere, resulting in "chemtrails?" Leading atmospheric scientists just say no.

Deborah Byrd

August 17, 2016

Squirrel takes GoPro: Best POV ever

Ever wonder what squirrels see as they scamper through the treetops? Wonder no more.

Deborah Byrd

August 16, 2016

Physicists confirm a possible 5th force

“If true, it’s revolutionary,” said Jonathan Feng, professor of physics and astronomy at University of California, Irvine and lead author of the new study.

Deborah Byrd

August 16, 2016

Cosmic flowers, Qinghai Lake, China

"Should there be the same scenery as seen from another place of the Milky Way?"

Deborah Byrd

August 15, 2016

See it! Perseid meteor photos and videos

The Perseids are declining now, but 2016 brought a great meteor shower for many around the globe. See photos and videos here.

Deborah Byrd

August 14, 2016

Astronomers aim Kepler at the Pleiades

The famous planet-hunting Kepler spacecraft peered toward the beautiful Pleiades star cluster and measured the spin rates of hundreds of Pleiades stars.

Deborah Byrd

August 13, 2016

Tabby’s Star: More weirdness

Some astronomers think this star may have an alien megastructure - an energy-gathering Dyson sphere - around it. Here's a glimpse of the controversy.

Deborah Byrd

August 13, 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.