Posts by

Deborah Byrd

Night sky from Antelope Canyon in Arizona

The night sky through the high walls and narrow opening of Upper Antelope Canyon in Arizona.

Deborah Byrd

April 10, 2014

Cataclysmic asteroid impact some 3.26 billion years ago

Scientists have reconstructed a collision between the early Earth and an asteroid. It dwarfed the event that caused dinosaurs to go extinct 65 million years ago.

Deborah Byrd

April 9, 2014

Atlantic sunglint reveals tails for Canary Islands

A particular quality of the light reflecting from the Atlantic Ocean reveals wavy, windsock-like tails stretching to the southwest from each of the Canary Islands.

Deborah Byrd

April 9, 2014

Warm water in Pacific could spark a monster El Nino in 2014

Scientists are watching a giant mass of sub-surface water in the Pacific. When this water reaches the sea surface, it could set off a powerful El Nino.

Deborah Byrd

April 8, 2014

Bright Mars

Earth goes between the sun and Mars on April 8. Mars is now brighter in our sky than it has been in six years, since December 2007.

Deborah Byrd

April 8, 2014

Astounding photos of marine worms, some previously unknown to science

Alexander Semenov photographed 222 different worm species, which are now in the process of being studied and documented by scientists. See photos.

Deborah Byrd

April 7, 2014

Throat of Fire volcano in Ecuador erupts explosively

A five-minute explosion from Tungurahua volcano shot hot gas and rock 6 miles (10 km) into the air on April 4, 2014. More explosions and tremors followed.

Deborah Byrd

April 5, 2014

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

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.