Posts by

Deborah Byrd

Earth is undergoing true polar wander, scientists say

Scientists developed a computer model to identify four possible instances of true polar wander in the past. And, they say, true polar wander is happening now.

Deborah Byrd

January 20, 2013

How Titan’s weather has changed its surface

Members of Cassini spacecraft radar team have made the first quantitative estimate of how much the weather on Titan has modified its surface.

Deborah Byrd

January 19, 2013

Video: The deer that thinks it’s a sheep

You will love this video. The deer attached himself to the sheep in early December 2012. He shows no sign of leaving.

Deborah Byrd

January 18, 2013

Video: Re-creating the hairstyle of the ancient Roman Vestal Virgins

Hair dresser and amateur archeologist Janet Stephens spent seven years researching the hairstyle of the Roman Vestal Virgins, to learn how to re-create it.

Deborah Byrd

January 17, 2013

Large sunspot region now facing Earth, might produce X-flare today

NOAA forecasters are also estimating a 30% to 45% chance of polar geomagnetic storms on January 17, 2013 when a CME is expected to hit Earth's magnetic field.

Deborah Byrd

January 17, 2013

New South Pole marker gives Pluto and Armstrong a shout out

The new South Pole marker has been moved to its correct location for 2013. A new plaque on top honors Neil Armstrong and the dwarf planet Pluto.

Deborah Byrd

January 16, 2013

Curiosity rover on Mars poised to have its drilling debut

See what the Curiosity rover sees as it's poised on the edge of a possible first drilling site on Mars. It might start drilling a few days from now.

Deborah Byrd

January 15, 2013

Video: Final footage before GRAIL moon mission crash landing

This final, breathtaking footage from the successful GRAIL moon mission was taken just six miles (10 kilometers) above the moon's surface on December 14, 2012.

Deborah Byrd

January 14, 2013

Asteroid Apophis to sweep closely past Earth on January 9, 2013

At present, there's a remote chance that Apophis will strike us in 2036. It's expected to drop to zero after the early 2013 pass of Apophis near Earth.

Deborah Byrd

January 8, 2013

Habitable zone around stars might be larger than we think

Could life survive on a world whose orbit around a distant sun was extremely oblong and eccentric? Such a world would have periods of extreme heat and cold.

Deborah Byrd

January 7, 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.