Posts by 

Deborah Byrd

Farthest fast radio burst, in a weird place

The most distant known fast radio burst flashed from an unlikely place: a collection of galaxies that existed when the universe was only 5 billion years old.

What is a penumbral eclipse of the moon?

There are 3 kinds of lunar eclipses: total, partial and penumbral. A penumbral eclipse is very subtle. You can notice a shading on the moon's face.

Mighty earthquake rocks Japan. Coastal areas evacuated

Mighty earthquake rocks Japan! The earthquake measured magnitude 7.5 according to USGS. It struck Japan on Monday afternoon, local time, prompting strong tsunami warnings.

Lenticular clouds look like UFOs

Lenticular clouds look like UFOs. See photos of lenticular clouds in various parts of the world, from the EarthSky community.

Wow! Polar stratospheric clouds spotted across the UK

Polar stratospheric clouds - also called nacreous clouds or mother-of-pearl clouds - have been putting on a show this week. Check out these beautiful images.

Iceland volcano erupts! See a livestream here

After weeks of earthquakes, an Iceland volcano began erupting powerfully on December 18, 2023. It was a bigger eruption than volcanologists had predicted!

10 tips for watching the Geminids in 2023

The Geminids make up a rich and much-loved annual meteor shower that peaks in mid-December. Here are 10 tips for watching the Geminids in 2023.

When our sun dies, what will happen to Earth?

A study suggests our sun is about the lowest mass star that - when it dies - produces a visible, though faint, planetary nebula. What happens when our sun dies.

2023’s most-illuminated quarter moon is tonight

Some quarter moons are fuller than others! The most-illuminated quarter moon of 2023 is on December 5. Learn more unique moon dates for 2024.

Al Risha binds the Fishes of Pisces together

The star Al Risha in the constellation Pisces isn't bright. But it's at the tip of the graceful V in the constellation Pisces and it's very noticeable.