Posts by

Deborah Byrd

What’s special about the shape of a Nautilus shell?

The early mathematician Fibonacci introduced Arabic numerals to the West. He also discovered a number sequence that's in everything from daisies to databases.

Deborah Byrd

April 18, 2013

Last night’s moon in a hazy sky

First quarter moon - when the moon appears half illuminated - comes on April 18. Last night, the line between light and dark on the moon was very slightly curved.

Deborah Byrd

April 18, 2013

SN 1006: A colossal star explosion, 10 centuries later

SN 1006 is a supernova remnant, a cloud of star debris initiated by a colossal stellar explosion in the year 1006. The debris has been expanding outward that year.

Deborah Byrd

April 17, 2013

This date in science: First woman to fly around the world

On April 17, 1964, Jerrie Mock touched down in Columbus, Ohio, capping a journey that lasted 29 days, 11 hours and 59 minutes.

Elizabeth Howell

Deborah Byrd

April 17, 2013

Ultra-long gamma ray bursts from supergiant star explosions?

Astronomers meeting this week in Nashville hear a new theory about the longest gamma rays bursts.

Deborah Byrd

April 16, 2013

Two sun halos seen over Canada yesterday

Here are two solar halos spotted over separate parts of Canada, at different times of day, yesterday.

Deborah Byrd

April 16, 2013

This date in science: Leonhard Euler’s 306th birthday

The Google doodle for April 16, 2013 honors physicist and mathematician Leonhard Euler, whose 306th birthday is today.

Deborah Byrd

April 15, 2013

Comet C/2013 A1 probably will not strike Mars in 2014

Previously, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory said there was a 1 in 8,000 chance the comet would strike Mars. Now that chance has been reduced to 1 in 120,000.

Deborah Byrd

April 15, 2013

As winter approaches, Titan’s south pole gets an ice cloud

The ice cloud above Titan's south pole can be seen only at infrared wavelengths. It means autumn is here, and winter is coming, for Titan's southern hemisphere.

Deborah Byrd

April 12, 2013

Cheshire Cat moon in west after sunset

A waxing crescent moon, like the one you'll see in tonight's western sky after the sun goes down

Deborah Byrd

April 12, 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.