Posts by

Deborah Byrd

Venus and Mercury, from Brazil

With the exception of Jupiter, the planets in the west after sunset now aren't very conspicuous. But they're lining up for some fun in August!

Deborah Byrd

July 26, 2016

Cloud study reveals Venus’ surface

Scientists had suspected that mountains on Venus affected weather patterns seen rippling across Venus' cloudtops. A new study provides evidence of this connection.

Deborah Byrd

July 24, 2016

Telescopes and laser beam, in Hawai’i

A visit to the summit of Mauna Kea on the Island of Hawai'i, where astronomers from 11 countries operate telescopes.

Deborah Byrd

July 24, 2016

Moon shadow in 2017 eclipse

Video depicting the moon's shadow path for the August 21, 2017 total eclipse of the sun, 1st eclipse over the continental U.S. since 1979.

Deborah Byrd

July 23, 2016

Healthy forests need birds and bees

A new study shows that we humans can help maintain healthy forests by focusing conservation efforts on the protection of animal pollinators and seed dispersers.

Deborah Byrd

July 22, 2016

The X at the center of the Milky Way

Computer models, and observations of our galaxy and others, suggested a Milky Way X, made of stars. An analysis of data from the WISE space telescope reveals it.

Deborah Byrd

July 22, 2016

Moonrise over the Tetons

The Tetons are part of the Rocky Mountains in North America - mostly in Wyoming - south of Yellowstone National Park.

Deborah Byrd

July 22, 2016

Rainbow light in the mist, Sweden

What appears to be a corona, possibly caused by water droplets in a mist - or even by pollen - as the sun rises over Sweden.

Deborah Byrd

July 21, 2016

Protoplanet blasted out Mare Imbrium

Mare Imbrium basin on the moon - the Man in the Moon's right eye - might have been made by a protoplanet-sized impact, 3.8 billion years ago.

Deborah Byrd

July 20, 2016

Today in science: 1st Mars landing

40th anniversary of the first fully successful soft landing on Mars' surface, by the Viking 1 spacecraft. First images from Mars' surface, here.

Deborah Byrd

July 20, 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.