Posts by

Deborah Byrd

6 million years of human evolution in 1 minute

Mesmerizing reconstructions of long-lost human ancestors - created using fossil discoveries and forensic techniques - from a 2013 book published by Yale Press.

Deborah Byrd

November 17, 2015

6.5-magnitude earthquake in Greece

Two are reported dead in the 6.5-magnitude earthquake, which struck just off the western Greek island of Lefkada on the morning of November 17.

Deborah Byrd

November 17, 2015

China’s new radio telescope

The construction of FAST - China's new radio telescope - is proceeding on schedule. When completed in 2016, it'll be the largest radio telescope in the world.

Deborah Byrd

November 17, 2015

Astronomers take a galaxy’s pulse

Astronomers had not considered the effect of variable stars on the light of distant galaxies. A new technique lets them measure the galaxies' "heartbeats."

Deborah Byrd

November 16, 2015

Zombie star eats an asteroid

What's left in a solar system whose central sun has become a white dwarf? This study shows what our own solar system might become, billions of years from now.

Deborah Byrd

November 16, 2015

Moon and planets, Alert, Nunavut, Canada

Deep into the dark months of the year - 508 miles (817 km) from the North Pole - a photo of the moon and morning planets.

Deborah Byrd

November 16, 2015

Mystery object WTF has come home

It was the first time astronomers knew just when and where a piece of space debris would reenter Earth's atmosphere. It was last night, over the Indian Ocean.

Deborah Byrd

November 14, 2015

Mars’ moon Phobos slowly falling apart

The mysterious grooves on Phobos are likely early signs of structural failure. Scientists expect the moon to be pulled apart in 30 to 50 million years.

Deborah Byrd

November 13, 2015

Lunar alpenglow and Orion

The beautiful constellation Orion, and all that surrounds it in the sky. Plus light from the setting moon on the sacred Chana Dorje peak in Tibet.

Deborah Byrd

November 12, 2015

Comet Encke pelts Mercury with meteors

This comet is the same one causing the amazing display of Taurid fireballs on Earth this year. And so our solar system begins to seem a little more familiar.

Deborah Byrd

November 11, 2015

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.