Posts by

Deborah Byrd

Success! Two men complete historic climb at Yosemite’s El Capitan

Two Americans have become the first to free-climb Yosemite National Park’s Dawn Wall, which has been called the hardest rock climb in the world.

Deborah Byrd

January 15, 2015

Toxic chemical scare on International Space Station on Wednesday

An alarm indicated a possible leak of toxic ammonia. Astronauts evacuated the U.S. side of the station. Later, NASA said the problem might have been a faulty sensor.

Deborah Byrd

January 14, 2015

The world’s hottest volcanos

Kilauea ranks hottest in terms of total energy. It's been erupting for decades. Meanwhile, Iceland’s Holuhraun eruption radiated the most heat for a single event.

Deborah Byrd

January 14, 2015

First notable solar flare of 2015

It was an M-class flare, and it might have produced a brief communications blackout on Monday night. But no CME - coronal mass ejection - is headed our way.

Deborah Byrd

January 13, 2015

Hurry! Mercury crater-naming contest ends January 15

Immortalize your favorite artist, composer, or writer! The competition to name five impact craters on Mercury closes on Thursday.

Deborah Byrd

January 13, 2015

Rare ice halo display in New Mexico

Ice halo display captured by Joshua Thomas in Red River, New Mexico on the morning of January 9, 2015.

Deborah Byrd

January 13, 2015

SpaceX capsule docks with International Space Station

The SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft successfully docked with the International Space Station on January 12, bringing needed supplies to the six astronauts aboard.

Deborah Byrd

January 12, 2015

Crescent moon Rhea occults crescent Saturn

Stunning image! The robotic Cassini spacecraft has been orbiting Saturn since 2004. It has produced some of the most magnificent images in our solar system.

Deborah Byrd

January 12, 2015

Awesome video of airplane crossing sun

Talk about being in the right place at the right time! Noel Keating tried all last year to capture video of a plane crossing the sun. On January 3, 2015, he did it!

Deborah Byrd

January 11, 2015

Binary pulsar gives up secrets, then disappears

Scientists measure the space-time warp in the gravity of a binary star and find the mass of a fast-spinning pulsar -- just before the pulsar disappears.

Deborah Byrd

January 8, 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.