Posts by 

Deborah Byrd

Winter sun returns to Earth’s far north

The solstice is behind us. At high northern latitudes, sunlight is returning only briefly each day or casts an eerie twilight glow.

Top ways to search the Internet for time travelers

Key strategy involves Internet searches for a mention of something before it actually happened.

First gamma-ray study of a gravitational lens

The work could provide insights into the workings of black-hole jets and help us understand the rate of the expansion of the universe.

Triple millisecond pulsar reveals secrets of gravity

Astronomers have pinned down masses and orbits of three stars in a unique system. Next, they'll use the system to study details in Einstein's theory of General Relativity.

Quadrantid meteor and aurora on January 3

In 2014, as the Quadrantid meteors were flying, those at far northern latitudes were seeing auroras.

Young crescent moon and old crescent Venus on January 2

The planet Venus is about to pass between the Earth and sun. It will soon disappear from our sky. But many saw it last night near the moon.

Small asteroid entered our atmosphere on January 2, 2014

This is only the second time that astronomers spotted an asteroid before it struck Earth's atmosphere. It underscores the need to be watching for these objects.

Softly the evening came

A mountain sunset near Tucson, Arizona and a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Extra high tides today

This new moon at the New Year is also one of the closest moons of the year. The close, new moon will cause tides to be higher than usual.

As 2014 begins, Venus a thin crescent in bright twilight

Venus is beautiful now! Just don't wait too many days to look for it. It'll soon disappear in the glare of sunset.