Posts by

Deborah Byrd

Happy May Day! Today is an astronomy holiday

Happy May Day! This annual celebration has its roots in astronomy as 1 of 4 cross-quarter days. Dancing around a maypole is a traditional May Day celebration.

Deborah Byrd

May 1, 2026

Hercules is between 2 bright stars: Vega and Arcturus

The bright stars Arcturus and Vega can help you find the constellation Hercules and its Keystone asterism. Hercules is home to 2 fabulous globular clusters.

Deborah Byrd

April 30, 2026

Here’s how to see the Lunar X and V at 1st-quarter moon

Lunar X and Lunar V are optical features on the moon. They are visible through a telescope for several hours around the time of the 1st quarter moon.

Deborah Byrd

April 23, 2026

Summer solstice in Mars’ southern hemisphere is April 25

The summer solstice in Mars' southern hemisphere happens on April 25, 2026. Summertime there typically kicks off dust season on the red planet.

Deborah Byrd

April 22, 2026

Happy Earth Day! Why do we celebrate it on April 22?

April 22 is the date of Earth Day in part because of Arbor Day, an earlier observance. The focus for 2026 is "Our Power, Our Planet."

Deborah Byrd

April 22, 2026

Universe’s expansion rate: ‘Something doesn’t add up’

We think we understand the local universe's expansion rate. But measurements confirm a mismatch that could point to a need for new physics.

Deborah Byrd

April 12, 2026

Kochab and Pherkad: Outer bowl stars of the Little Dipper

Kochab and Pherkad are stars in the Little Dipper asterism. Maybe you can find the Big Dipper but not the Little Dipper? This post will help.

Deborah Byrd

April 7, 2026

Coma Berenices: See how Leo the Lion lost his tail

Coma Berenices is the constellation of Queen Berenice's Hair. It used to be the tail of Leo the Lion before it became its own constellation.

Larry Sessions

Deborah Byrd

March 30, 2026

Mars sometimes is bright and sometimes is faint

Mars emerged in the April 2026 morning sky and is visible in the morning through year's end. Its next opposition - when it's brightest - is February 2027.

Deborah Byrd

March 25, 2026

Notice the westward shift of Orion and all the stars

As Earth makes its grand tour around the sun each year, the stars and constellations all do a westward shift in our sky. Orion is a good one to notice.

Deborah Byrd

March 24, 2026

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.