Posts by

Deborah Byrd

Supernovae showered Earth with radioactive debris

The supernovae may have been less than 300 light-years away. The evidence comes from radioactive iron-60, found in ocean sediments and crust.

Deborah Byrd

April 6, 2016

SETI turns focus to 20,000 red dwarf stars

Astronomers with the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence had their reasons for ignoring red dwarf stars in the past. But now that thinking has changed.

Deborah Byrd

April 6, 2016

Snow goose moon

To our knowledge, Snow Goose Moon isn't one of the commonly used moon names. But, at least in some parts of the world, it should be.

Deborah Byrd

April 6, 2016

Asteroid swept within moon’s distance April 5

Astronomers did know in advance that asteroid 2016 FW13 would pass closely - but safely - on April 5, 2016. Check out a photo from the Virtual Telescope Project.

Deborah Byrd

April 5, 2016

Check it out! Full-sphere astrophotos

A new camera records a 360-degree full-sphere panorama with only one single shot. It's bound to set off a small revolution in astrophotography, says Project Nightflight.

Deborah Byrd

April 5, 2016

How to make a mountain on Mars

They're not mountains in the earthly sense. They're mile-high mounds, which - a new study says - were carved over billions of years by wind and climate.

Deborah Byrd

April 4, 2016

Don’t miss Jupiter

Jupiter is at its best now, shining brilliantly. You can see it easily, ascending in the east each evening.

Deborah Byrd

April 4, 2016

Ocean temps predict heat waves 50 days out

Scientists identified what they call the Pacific Extreme Pattern - warm seawater next to cool seawater - and showed its connection to heat waves weeks later.

Deborah Byrd

April 3, 2016

Another asteroid clobbers Jupiter

Giant Jupiter is a frequent target for asteroid strikes, in part because of its size. This impact is the 5th we've seen in the past decade.

Deborah Byrd

April 2, 2016

Camping under Orion’s shadow

Orion the Hunter is one of the most noticeable constellations, as seen from around the world. Here's a shot taken in the Himalayas.

Deborah Byrd

April 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.