Posts by

Deborah Byrd

Another powerful earthquake rocks northern Chile

For the second time in two days, a powerful earthquake has struck Chile. Today's quake was 7.6 magnitude. It's considered an aftershock of the 8.2-magnitude quake on April 1.

Deborah Byrd

April 3, 2014

Aurora alert for April 1 and 2

The first of three sets of solar particles are now en route to Earth and are expected to deliver glancing blows to Earth beginning April 1 and into April 2.

Deborah Byrd

April 1, 2014

Last night’s young moon

Enjoy the waxing moon in the coming weeks! When full moon comes, on the night of April 14-15, we in the Americas will get to see a total lunar eclipse.

Deborah Byrd

April 1, 2014

Pointing to star Spica and planet Mars

It's nearly the best time in two years to see Mars. On April 8, Earth in its smaller, faster orbit will pass between Mars and the sun.

Deborah Byrd

March 31, 2014

4.8-magnitude earthquake in Yellowstone Park on March 30

Yellowstone National Park is above a hotspot below the crust of the Earth. Its hot springs and geysers make it a popular tourist attraction. It is also riddled with fault lines ...

Deborah Byrd

March 30, 2014

X-flare of Saturday, March 29

Solar flares are short-lived but powerful bursts of radiation. They are our solar system’s largest explosive events, lasting minutes to hours on the sun’s surface.

Deborah Byrd

March 30, 2014

Miss the moon and Venus this morning? Photos here

Photos from friends around the world of the March 27 and March 28 pairing of the moon with Venus. Thank you, everyone, for posting!

Deborah Byrd

March 27, 2014

Theory suggests source of white dwarf pollution … and ominous fate for Earth

A new theory, advanced to explain how the atmospheres of collapsed stars become polluted, points to ominous fate awaiting planet Earth.

Deborah Byrd

March 26, 2014

Video: Smart crow!

A BBC production shows a crow solving an 8-step puzzle to get food.

Deborah Byrd

March 26, 2014

World’s first robotic planet hunter

Every night, the Automated Planet Finder checks the weather, decides which stars to observe, and moves the telescope from star to star, looking for distant planets.

Deborah Byrd

March 26, 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.