Posts by

Deborah Byrd

Monster black hole at cosmic dawn

A black hole 12 billion times more massive than our sun - at the heart of the brightest quasar in the early universe - as the dark ages of the universe were just ending.

Deborah Byrd

February 27, 2015

Another breathtaking view of Comet Lovejoy

The comet was 51 million miles from Earth at the time – a short distance for the Dark Energy Camera, which is sensitive to light 8 billion light-years away.

Deborah Byrd

February 27, 2015

Fireball at Sandy Point, Maine

Two photographers - Mike Taylor and Sonia MacNeil of Mike Taylor Photo - caught a bright meteor, or fireball, from an icy beach.

Deborah Byrd

February 27, 2015

When the daytime moon covers Venus

Beautiful time-sequenced images from 2007, when the daytime moon covered the brightest planet, Venus.

Deborah Byrd

February 25, 2015

Saharan dust feeds Amazon rainforest, perfectly

Phosphorus carried in Saharan dust to the Amazon rainforest each year turns out to be just enough to replace that lost from the rainforest due to rain and flooding.

Deborah Byrd

February 24, 2015

Buddhist statue has a mummy inside

The mummy inside this statue - which was found in China - appears to be a man 30 to 50 years old. He was apparently buried alive inside a chamber while meditating.

Deborah Byrd

February 24, 2015

Does dark matter cause mass extinctions?

As we journey around the galaxy, our solar system might regularly interact with dark matter, which might dislodge Oort cloud comets and boost heat in Earth's core.

Deborah Byrd

February 24, 2015

Barnard’s Loop and more in Orion

Orion the Hunter of one of the brightest and easiest-to-find constellations. Orion also contains a vast region of bright and dark clouds, hidden to the eye.

Deborah Byrd

February 24, 2015

More favorite photos of February 20-21 planets and moon

Wonderful photos of Venus and Mars, and the waxing moon, after sunset on February 20-21, 2015! Thanks to all who posted at EarthSky Facebook or submitted to EarthSky.org.

Deborah Byrd

February 22, 2015

Roaming star system a near miss!

Scholz's star passed only 0.8 light-years from our sun, only 70,000 years ago. It came closer than any other known star, sweeping through the Oort comet cloud.

Deborah Byrd

February 21, 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.