Posts by

Deborah Byrd

Smoke from Canada’s wildfires in clouds

Wildfires are currently burning across a large expanse of Canada. This image from the Aqua satellite shows wildfire smoke trapped in the clouds.

Deborah Byrd

May 10, 2016

Photos! May 9, 2016 transit of Mercury

Photos from the EarthSky community of the May 9, 2016, transit of Mercury across the face of the sun. Thanks to all who posted!

Deborah Byrd

May 9, 2016

Why Planet 9 shouldn’t exist

Earlier this year, scientists presented evidence for a Planet Nine in the far outer solar system. Scientists think it exists, but - if so - how did it get there?

Deborah Byrd

Eleanor Imster

May 9, 2016

Airplane crosses sun’s face

While preparing on Sunday to watch today's transit - an event Mercury crosses the face of our sun - Helio C. Vital caught an airplane doing the same.

Deborah Byrd

May 9, 2016

Mars and Saturn in 2016

Video of this year's oppositions of Mars and Saturn, in front of the constellations Libra and Scorpius. Notice Mars appearing larger around its May 22 opposition!

Deborah Byrd

May 8, 2016

Watch Mercury inch closer to the sun

Mercury is getting ready to transit the sun on May 9. This video from the SOHO sun-watching camera shows Mercury inching closer to the sun's disk, day by day.

Deborah Byrd

May 7, 2016

Earthquake swarms at Mount St. Helens

Earthquake rates have been steadily increasing since March at the Pacific Northwest volcano Mount St. Helens. The cause is probably new magma, rising upward.

Deborah Byrd

May 7, 2016

Rare time-lapse of Webb mirror rollover

Inside the world's largest clean room at Goddard Space Flight Center, the James Webb Space Telescope team lifted and turned the telescope for the first time last week.

Deborah Byrd

May 7, 2016

Long meteor over Arkansas

Meteor showers happen when Earth passes through a stream of icy debris left behind by a comet. The famous Comet Halley spawned last week's Eta Aquarids.

Deborah Byrd

May 7, 2016

A mix of dark dust and bright stars

Vast dust clouds stretch across a rich starfield in near the northern boundary of the southern constellation Corona Australis, the Southern Crown.

Deborah Byrd

May 4, 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.