Posts by

Deborah Byrd

Winter stars … and Vega?

Two Dog Stars and a real dog named for a star.

Deborah Byrd

February 2, 2015

Video: Cool movie of close-passing asteroid 2004 BL86

Asteroid 2004 BL86 and its newly discovered moon passed only 745,000 miles (1.2 million km) from Earth last week. Did you see the still photos? Now see the movie ...

Deborah Byrd

January 31, 2015

Ancient skull offers clues to humans’ migration out of Africa

A partial skull from a cave in northern Israel sheds light on the first modern humans to walk out of Africa and their interbreeding with Neanderthals.

Deborah Byrd

January 30, 2015

Moon, Mars and Venus from a sea cave

Looking out from a sea cave over the Pacific at two planets and the moon.

Deborah Byrd

January 30, 2015

Flowing water on Vesta?

Who knew asteroids could have flowing water? They are so small, airless and cold that the idea seems surprising, to say the least. The latest evidence, here.

Deborah Byrd

January 29, 2015

Astrophysicists’ update on enormous and unexpected Fermi bubbles

Discovered in 2010, two vast and mysterious Fermi bubbles radiate out from our Milky Way galaxy's core. An update from the three astrophysicists who found them.

Deborah Byrd

January 29, 2015

U.S. Nor’easter at night

The Suomi NPP and the GOES-East satellites captured the powerful storm as it neared its peak intensity, in the early morning hours of January 27.

Deborah Byrd

January 28, 2015

Best images! Asteroid 2004 BL86, as it swept near Earth

Images and video of asteroid 2004 BL86, which swept about 3 times the moon's distance from Earth on Monday, January 26.

Deborah Byrd

January 27, 2015

Asteroid that flew past Earth on Monday has a moon!

Radar images of asteroid 2004 BL86 confirm the primary asteroid is 1,100 feet (325 meters) across with a small moon 230 feet (70 meters) across.

Deborah Byrd

January 27, 2015

Big asteroid swept close on January 26

Asteroid 2004 BL86 came closer than any known asteroid this large until 2027. Information and photos of the asteroid, plus links to more.

Eddie Irizarry

Deborah Byrd

January 26, 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.