Posts by

Deborah Byrd

You might see some meteors in early September

The peak of the Aurigid meteor shower has passed, but you still might see meteors in early September. Expect a handful each hour in a clear, dark sky.

Deborah Byrd

September 1, 2013

Newly forming star stretched a light-year long

Hot, bright stars generate harsh stellar winds that are blast ultraviolet radiation toward a protostar, sculpting it into the light-year-long shape seen here.

Deborah Byrd

September 1, 2013

Jupiter and moon before dawn on August 31

People around the world enjoyed seeing the bright planet Jupiter near the waning crescent moon on the morning of August 31, 2013.

Deborah Byrd

August 31, 2013

Rover Curiosity sees Martian moon Phobos eclipse the sun

When Phobos passed in front of the sun, it created an annular or "ring" eclipse. That is, the sun's surface appeared in a ring around the little moon in silhouette.

Deborah Byrd

August 30, 2013

Magnitude 7.0 earthquake rocks Alaska’s Aleutian Islands

A 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck near Adak, Alaska earlier today (August 30, 2013). No immediate reports of injuries or serious damage. No tsunami warning.

Deborah Byrd

August 30, 2013

More photos and update on California’s Rim Fire

As of August 28, the fire is 20% contained. Thousands of firefighters are still battling the blaze, which has burned 184,481 acres near Yosemite National Park.

Deborah Byrd

August 28, 2013

Monarch butterfly habitat in Mexican forests at 20-year low

Climate change and illegal logging in Mexican forests, where the monarchs spend the winter, may be contributing the decline of monarch butterflies.

Deborah Byrd

August 25, 2013

Comet ISON’s path across our sky

This chart shows how we on Earth see Comet ISON in front of the background stars, as it falls toward the sun, moving from the outer to the inner solar system.

Deborah Byrd

August 20, 2013

Video: Perseid meteor explodes and leaves a vapor trail

A meteor during the recent Perseid meteor shower that exploded and then behind a vapor trail, captured on video by Michael Chung.

Deborah Byrd

August 16, 2013

6.5-magnitude quake, many aftershocks, strike New Zealand

Disruptions in transportation and cracks in buildings. No serious injuries reported so far. Many strong aftershocks.

Deborah Byrd

August 16, 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.