Posts by

Deborah Byrd

Last night’s moon and Jupiter

Beautiful view of Jupiter - fourth-brightest sky object after the sun, moon and planet Venus - near last night's moon.

Deborah Byrd

October 25, 2013

The coldest place in the universe

Astronomers say the Boomerang Nebula is the coldest place in the universe at one degree Kelvin (minus 458 degrees Fahrenheit). It's even colder than background space.

Deborah Byrd

October 24, 2013

Halo around the moon

There's truth to this old saying: halo around the moon means rain soon.

Deborah Byrd

October 23, 2013

Doomsday in 2032 from asteroid 2013 TV135? Not likely

Asteroid 2013 TV135 is big. But it's not likely to hit us.

Deborah Byrd

October 22, 2013

Glory, seen from a hot air balloon

Eileen Claffey saw this glory - formed when water droplets in the air scatter light backwards - this past weekend, while riding in a hot air balloon.

Deborah Byrd

October 20, 2013

Three planets, zodiacal light and Milky Way

This stupendous photo by Justin Ng shows the recent array of three planets seen from Earth's Southern Hemisphere, the Milky Way and the elusive zodiacal light.

Deborah Byrd

October 18, 2013

See the penumbral eclipse of the Hunter’s Moon on October 18-19

You're more likely to see the eclipse from Europe or Africa than from North America. As seen from eastern North America, the eclipse will be ongoing at moonrise Friday evening.

Deborah Byrd

October 17, 2013

Early Orionid and aurora

In 2013, the Orionids are expected to peak on the morning of October 21, but a bright moon will interfere with the shower.

Deborah Byrd

October 17, 2013

California diver finds 18-foot-long sea creature

The diver - Jasmine Santana of the Catalina Island Marine Institute - reportedly thought, "I have to drag this thing out of here or nobody will believe me."

Deborah Byrd

October 16, 2013

Scores killed or hurt as earthquakes rock southern Philippines

It was 8:12 a.m. on October 15 when the ground began to shake in the southern Philippine islands. Dozens dead, scores injured. Multiple strong aftershocks.

Deborah Byrd

October 15, 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.