Posts by

Deborah Byrd

New Hubble image: Spiral galaxy M96

In this image, the galaxy resembles a whirlpool of glowing gas, rippled with dark dust that swirls inwards towards the galactic nucleus or core.

Deborah Byrd

September 5, 2015

Venus in daytime on August 30

Venus appears as a crescent for the same reason the moon does. It's because, at times like now, its lighted side - or day side - is facing mostly away from us.

Deborah Byrd

September 4, 2015

Comet Hitchhiker concept takes a step

A spacecraft using Comet Hitchhiker orbits and lands on multiple comets and asteroids using a harpoon and tether and the energy of motion of the small bodies themselves.

Deborah Byrd

September 3, 2015

Giant sunspot AR2403

It didn't produce any X flares, but it was spectacular to view on the sun for six days, from August 21 to 26.

Deborah Byrd

September 2, 2015

How to see the Summer Triangle in September

Even as September is beginning, you have several more months to see the large asterism known as the Summer Triangle.

Deborah Byrd

September 1, 2015

Venus and Mars before dawn

Venus has returned to the east before dawn. Mars is up there, too, but not nearly as bright. See Venus, and capture Mars now with binoculars or in photos.

Deborah Byrd

September 1, 2015

Double black hole powers nearby quasar

One black hole may be 4 million solar masses, about the same mass as our Milky Way's central black hole. The other may be 150 million solar masses.

Deborah Byrd

August 31, 2015

Ethereal beach

Gorgeous photo of one of the most beautiful beaches in the Pacific Northwest.

Deborah Byrd

August 31, 2015

Record-breaking three Category 4 hurricanes in Pacific

First recorded occurrence of three Category 4 hurricanes in central and eastern Pacific basins at once. Hurricane Center in Honolulu issuing advisories on all three.

Deborah Byrd

August 30, 2015

New Horizons’ potential next flyby target

New Horizons will perform four maneuvers in October and November to veer toward 2014 MU69 - an object in the Kuiper Belt - aiming for a January 1, 2019 encounter.

Deborah Byrd

August 30, 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.