After releasing a barrage of M-class flares over the past few days, sunspot 1515 released an X-flare on July 6. Its effects might deliver a glancing blow to Earth on July 8 or 9.

Deborah Byrd

July 7, 2012

Burn scar from fire in Colorado Springs

The fire is 90% contained, but 776 firefighters are still there, on patrol or waiting to be reassigned. The burn scar is visible from space.

Deborah Byrd

July 6, 2012

Middleweight black hole found

A middleweight black hole - with a mass perhaps 20,000 times that of our sun - has reveled itself to astronomers by as it feeds on a star that has come near it.

Deborah Byrd

July 6, 2012

Vote on best images: Earth as Art

Follow the link in this post to vote on your top five favorite images, from 40 years of Landsat satellite history. Beautiful!

Deborah Byrd

Editors of EarthSky

July 4, 2012

Flying car completes Phase One flight tests

I always wanted a flying car. Now Terrafugia has built a prototype, and its Phase One flight testing in June 2012 was a success.

Deborah Byrd

July 2, 2012

Wildfire in Colorado Springs now 45% contained

The wildfire in Colorado Springs, Colorado is 45% contained as of July 1, 2012. It's being called the most destructive fire in Colorado history.

Matt Daniel

Deborah Byrd

July 1, 2012

State of emergency in Washington DC following June 29, 2012 storm

On Friday June 29, triple-digit temperatures in the Washington DC area made history and toppled old records. Then a storm rolled through.

Deborah Byrd

June 30, 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.