Posts by

Deborah Byrd

Quadrantid meteor and aurora on January 3

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

Deborah Byrd

January 4, 2014

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.

Deborah Byrd

January 3, 2014

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.

Deborah Byrd

January 2, 2014

Softly the evening came

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

Deborah Byrd

January 2, 2014

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.

Deborah Byrd

January 1, 2014

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.

Deborah Byrd

December 30, 2013

Analemma 2013

If you photographed the sun at the same time each day - subtracting an hour as needed for Daylight Saving Time - the resulting figure-8 would be an analemma.

Deborah Byrd

December 30, 2013

Light pillars over Ontario

Light pillars form when a bright light reflects off the surfaces of millions of falling ice crystals associated with thin, high-level clouds.

Deborah Byrd

December 29, 2013

Stalled rescue for icebound ship in Antarctica

Three ships had been headed toward the trapped Russian vessel. Two have now turned back, but a third is expected to reach the vessel late Sunday.

Deborah Byrd

December 28, 2013

New island in Japanese waters

As of December 24, 2013, fresh lava was still pouring from a submarine volcano, building the new island.

Deborah Byrd

December 28, 2013

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.