Posts by

Deborah Byrd

The day Earth smiled, a global moment of cosmic self-awareness

NASA's Cassini spacecraft will be photographing Earth through the rings of Saturn on Friday, July 19, and - if you're in the Americas - you can join the shot.

Deborah Byrd

July 19, 2013

An aurora, and the start of meteor season

The sun is in an active part of its 11-year cycle, so auroras have been frequent. Meanwhile, summer meteor season in the Northern Hemisphere is gearing up.

David Callejas

Deborah Byrd

July 18, 2013

A gas cloud is sweeping past the Milky Way’s central black hole

Astronomers are observing the "noodle effect" as the black hole's powerful gravity stretches and elongates the cloud.

Deborah Byrd

July 17, 2013

Crazy weather? You can’t blame HAARP anymore

The High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) — target of conspiracy theorists — has closed down.

Deborah Byrd

July 16, 2013

Hear a seismic scream from Alaska’s Redoubt Volcano

Scientists say they have now solved the mystery of Redoubt's scream prior to eruption.

Deborah Byrd

July 15, 2013

Now 7.2 billion humans, and counting

The United Nations says global human population reached 7.2 billion in mid-2013. The "medium-fertility" projection for the year 2050 has been revised upward to 9.6 billion.

Deborah Byrd

July 14, 2013

A true-blue world, 63 light-years away

Earth appears blue from space because it has oceans. Planet HD 189733b appears blue because of molten glass "raindrops" blowing sideways across its surface.

Deborah Byrd

July 11, 2013

Video: Our solar system’s comet-like tail

Visualize the sun's tail - which space scientists call the "heliotail" - with this video.

Deborah Byrd

July 11, 2013

Delicate Arch illuminated by flashlight

Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, illuminated here by a woman with a flashlight.

Deborah Byrd

July 10, 2013

Update on sunspot group 11 times as wide as Earth

AR1785 and AR1787 comprise one of biggest sunspot groupings of Solar Cycle 24. So far, though, the grouping has been surprisingly quiet.

Deborah Byrd

July 9, 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.