Posts by

Deborah Byrd

Is there a black hole in the center of our galaxy?

And if the Milky Way does have a central black hole, what's it doing there?

Deborah Byrd

December 19, 2012

GRAIL moon probes’ crash site named for astronaut Sally Ride

The two GRAIL spacecraft hit the lunar surface at planned at 4:28 CST (2228 UTC) and 4:29 CST, at a speed of 3,760 mph (1.7 kilometers per second).

Deborah Byrd

December 17, 2012

Estimate suggests Milky Way mass of 1.6 trillion suns

New estimate of Milky Way mass doesn't mean our galaxy has 1.6 trillion stars. It includes the mass of the dark matter halo thought to surround our Milky Way.

Deborah Byrd

December 17, 2012

Will you still see meteors tonight, December 14, 2012? Yes!

The peak of the Geminid meteor shower is past - but only barely. If you watch late tonight or in the wee hours tomorrow, you should still see some meteors.

Deborah Byrd

December 14, 2012

6.4-magnitude earthquake off coast of Baja California

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did not issue a tsunami warming following the earthquake, which occurred at 2:36 a.m. Pacific Standard Time.

Deborah Byrd

December 14, 2012

Asteroid Toutatis passed within 18 lunar distances on December 11-12

Here are images, videos and info from the sweep past Earth of this 3-mile-wide (5-km-wide) space rock.

Deborah Byrd

December 13, 2012

Saturn’s large moon Titan has mini Nile, scientists say

Titan's Nile is no dry riverbed. It appears to be filled with liquid, presumably ethane mixed with methane.

Deborah Byrd

December 12, 2012

New meteor shower might coincide with 2012 Geminids!

Debris left behind by Comet Wirtanen might produce 30 meteors per hour, added to 100 meteors per hour from the Geminids. That would be an awesome meteor show!

Deborah Byrd

December 11, 2012

Close pass and possible asteroid eclipse tonight of 2012 XE54

Astronomers discovered the asteroid yesterday. It might enter Earth's shadow in the next few hours and pass slightly more than half the moon's distance a few hours after that.

Deborah Byrd

December 10, 2012

No global dust storm for Mars this year?

On November 10, a major dust storm broke out in Mars' southern hemisphere. By early December 2012, the storm was dying down.

Deborah Byrd

December 10, 2012

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.