Posts by

Deborah Byrd

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

The intriguing crack in Rosetta’s comet, and more

Scientists publish a slew of science results from the Rosetta comet mission. Among the most fascinating ... a crack in the comet's neck! Plus dust and jets, the mysterious double-lobed shape, and more.

Deborah Byrd

January 26, 2015

Little solar halo observer

A big moment for a sky photographer and his son, in Sweden.

Deborah Byrd

January 25, 2015

Friday night’s rare triple shadow transit of Jupiter

Three moon shadows at once on Jupiter Friday night! It won't happen again for U.S. observers until the year 2032. You can also watch online.

Deborah Byrd

January 22, 2015

See it! Best photos of moon and Venus

A beautiful sky just after sunset on January 21, 2015! The moon, the bright planet Venus and, for some, the planets Mercury and Mars. Yay! Venus is back.

Deborah Byrd

January 22, 2015

Dramatic sunset over the Atlantic, seen near Rio

Cool air on the sea surface strongly refracted the setting sun, seen Saturday night from a small town near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Cool series of images!

Deborah Byrd

January 20, 2015

Ceres’ mysterious white spot seen in new Dawn image

Dawn spacecraft now closing in on dwarf planet Ceres. Image is for navigation purposes; next one due late January. And what is that white spot, anyway?

Deborah Byrd

January 19, 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.