Posts by

Deborah Byrd

Two photos of moon trails

Two photos of moon trails, created by Earth's own spin on its axis beneath the night sky.

Deborah Byrd

May 9, 2014

Mid-level solar flare erupts from sun on May 8

The May 8 solar flare is classified as an M5.2-class flare. M-flares are about one-tenth as strong as the most intense flares, called X-flares.

Deborah Byrd

May 8, 2014

Strong earthquake rattles Mexico’s Pacific coast

A 6.4-magnitude earthquake rocked Mexico's southern Pacific coast on Thursday. Many frightened people, but only minor damage reported so far.

Deborah Byrd

May 8, 2014

Star clusters form from outside in, not inside out, study says

Astronomers studied two clusters where sun-like stars are still forming. Both clusters had older stars on their outskirts than toward their centers.

Deborah Byrd

May 8, 2014

Today science: Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen

Here's why climbers use supplemental oxygen to climb Mount Everest. Also, the curtailment of the 2014 Everest climbing season following a deadly avalanche.

Deborah Byrd

Elizabeth Howell

May 8, 2014

A tornado cut this swath of destruction in Arkansas

Among the hardest hit areas during April's severe storms were the towns of Mayflower and Vilonia, Arkansas. A NASA satellite captured the tornado track from above.

Deborah Byrd

May 8, 2014

Rainbow rings of Saturn

Turquoise-hued rings of Saturn contain particles of nearly pure water ice, while reddish rings contain ice particles with more contaminants.

Deborah Byrd

May 7, 2014

Eta Aquarid meteor from Mount Bromo, an active volcano

Part of the night sky is obscured by sulphur dioxide gas emitted by Mount Bromo, an active volcano, in this photo by Justin Ng of Singapore.

Deborah Byrd

May 7, 2014

Why so few Eta Aquarid meteors in 2014?

We expected 20-40 meteors per hour this morning, at the shower's peak. But Eta Aquarid meteor rates in 2014 seem to have been far lower. Why?

Deborah Byrd

May 6, 2014

Ancient Peruvian culture predating Nazcas used desert lines to guide people to solstice festivities

The Paracas immediately preceded another culture called the Nazca, which is famous for making massive line drawings in the Peruvian desert.

Deborah Byrd

May 6, 2014

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.