Posts by

Deborah Byrd

What is a sun pillar, or light pillar? They’re beautiful!

A sun pillar, or light pillar, is a shaft of light from the sun or other bright light source, caused by ice crystals under the right atmospheric conditions.

Deborah Byrd

March 15, 2023

Tau Boötis’ pole flip was 15 years ago

On March 13, 2008, astronomers published the first study showing Tau Boötis experienced a pole flip. That's something we had previously only seen on the sun.

Deborah Byrd

March 12, 2023

Sunrays on Mars, captured by Curiosity

NASA's Curiosity rover has captured our 1st clear image of crepuscular rays or sunrays on Mars. The rover also caught cloud iridescence on Mars.

Deborah Byrd

March 8, 2023

Antarctic ice on the run, with a 45-year low

Antarctic ice is melting. This February, it's at its lowest extent in the 45-year satellite record. Also, a long-term melt study suggests a surprising speed-up.

Deborah Byrd

March 1, 2023

Chinese balloon in high-res, from above, via a U2 pilot

A top-down view of the Chinese balloon that caused an uproar as it drifted over the U.S. in early February 2023, as seen from a US Air Force plane.

Deborah Byrd

February 24, 2023

Hare and Dove at Orion the Hunter’s feet

If you have a dark sky, you can see constellations representing a Hare and Dove. They're 2 faint constellations near easy-to-find Orion.

Deborah Byrd

February 16, 2023

It’s spoke season on Saturn!

Spoke season on Saturn comes in cycles centered on Saturn's equinoxes, which happen only about every 15 years. It's happening now!

Deborah Byrd

February 13, 2023

Sundog obliterated by a rocket 13 years ago

On February 11, 2010, a solar observatory that launched into space ripped apart a sundog and created a new ice halo that amazed scientists.

Deborah Byrd

February 10, 2023

US military retrieval of Chinese balloon

The military used underwater drones, warships and inflatable vessels to retrieve all pieces of the Chinese balloon shot down in early February, 2023.

Deborah Byrd

February 8, 2023

Smallest main-belt asteroid yet, for Webb

The Webb space telescope has detected a new 100-200-meter asteroid. It's roughly the size of Rome’s Colosseum and is Webb's smallest main-belt asteroid yet.

Deborah Byrd

February 7, 2023

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.