Posts by

Deborah Byrd

Darn! Comet C/2021 O3 PanSTARRS has disintegrated

Astronomers hoped comet C/2021 O3 (PanSTARRS) would get bright after its April 2022 sweep near the sun. Instead, it disintegrated.

Don Machholz

Kelly Kizer Whitt

Deborah Byrd

May 5, 2022

Bird flu outbreak: Should you take down feeders?

A highly pathogenic bird flu is spreading among U.S. birds. Researchers originally recommended taking down feeders. Here's what they're saying now.

Kelly Kizer Whitt

Deborah Byrd

April 25, 2022

Starburst galaxies flourished in early universe

The early universe was a hotbed of star formation! In its first few billion years, our universe apparently produced 60-90% of its stars in starburst galaxies.

Deborah Byrd

April 4, 2022

Yuri’s Night: World Space Party – a time to celebrate

Yuri Gagarin's space flight is remembered in Yuri's Night celebrations. This Russian pilot was the first man to fly into orbit, in 1961.

Deborah Byrd

April 1, 2022

Odd radio circles perplex astronomers

The South African Radio Astronomy Observatory released a new image of ORCs on March 22, 2022. ORCs are odd radio circles in space.

Deborah Byrd

March 23, 2022

New solar sail may travel to Alpha Centauri

The distances between stars are vast, which is why star travel is so far. But now, a new solar sail may be able to travel to Alpha Centauri in 20 years.

Deborah Byrd

March 12, 2022

Breakup of an asteroid: 8th anniversary

Breakup of an asteroid: Scientists watched as, over a period of months, the asteroid known as P/2013 R3 broke into smaller pieces 8 years ago.

Deborah Byrd

March 6, 2022

Is a rocket going to strike the moon today?

Yes, a rocket will strike the moon on March 4, 2022. It's not a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. It may be a Chinese rocket that launched in 2014.

Deborah Byrd

Kelly Kizer Whitt

March 3, 2022

Use Big Dipper to locate Hunting Dogs

Find out how to use the Big Dipper to find the constellation Canes Venatici, also known as the Hunting Dogs, which contains the stars Chara and Asterion.

Deborah Byrd

March 3, 2022

Andromeda and Milky Way galaxies are merging

The Milky Way and Andromeda merger has already begun. The two spiral galaxies will form one giant elliptical galaxy in 5 billion years.

Deborah Byrd

Theresa Wiegert

March 2, 2022

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.